Controversial senatorial hopeful Larry Gadon on Friday, Feb. 2 took the cudgels for examinees who will be barred from taking the bar examination for testing positive to COVID 19.
Gadon, a member of the UniTeam senatorial ticket, appealed to the Supreme Court to reconsider its decision to prohibit COVID-19 positive examinees to take the qualifying examination for lawyers which will be held soon.
In a statement Gadon, a lawyer, called on the High Court to be compassionate on examinees who have prepared for so long to take the examinations, saying that they should be allowed to take the bar in an isolation room located a safe distance from the other examinees. .
“Nararapat lamang na bigyan pa rin ng pagkakataon na kumuha pa rin ng examine ang mga bar examinees na positive sa CoVID. Pwede naman silang ilagay sa isolation room para makakuha ng bar. (It is just right that bar examinees who tested positive to COVID be allowed to take the bar. They may be placed in an isolation room where they can take the bar),” said Gadon.
He proposed that the SC hire nurses and frontline health workers as special proctors that will man the isolation rooms designated for COVID-19 positive examinees.
"These medical personnel are experts in protecting themselves from infection," Gadon stated.
Gadon also suggested that additional CCTV cameras be placed in the isolation room should the High Court reject his proposal for the hiring of nurses.
Recently suspended by the SC from practicing his profession, Gadon explained the difficulties facing the said examinees should they be barred from pursuing the examination.
He said the preparations they have experienced are both costly and time consuming.
“Many of them have to travel from the provinces to go to Manila for their review. If denied a chance to take the examination this year, they have to review and spend much again. Let’s have pity on them,” said Gadon.
“They waited for this chance, spending so much time and money to go back to what they learned at law school, in order to reach their dream of becoming a lawyer. I pray that our SC will put into consideration the ordeal that confronted each examinee and make adjustments to allow even those with COVID-19 to take the bar,” said the senatorial bet of Kilusang Bagong Lipunan.