The 235 passers in the Special Shari’ah Bar Examinations (SSBE) took their oath as counselors-at-law during the Supreme Court’s (SC) special full court session at The Manila Hotel last week.

Two other passers in the 2022 and 2025 SSBEs also took their oath.

The 235 new counselors-at-law passed the examinations administered by the SC last May 24 and 27. They and the two other passers are now allowed to practice Islamic law and represent clients in the country’s Shari’ah district and circuit courts.

Those who took their oath were led by topnotchers Ahmad Nuska Bato and Van Regine Lim Perlas who both got 89.15 percent; Cairah Abdul Azis Cairodin, 88.77 percent; Michelle Love Carl Saludsod Go, 88.57 percent; Hann Nazia Saludsod Macapintal, 88.47 percent; Sittie Ayesah Arindig Escander, 88.15 percent; Mohammad Muktadir Ahmad Estrella, 87.55 percent; Hanna-Tunisia Fatima Usman, 87.47 percent; Rauda Ismael Salisa, 87.15 percent; Alpha Carole Onrubia Pontanal, 86.97 percent; and Salahudden Saripada Misbah, 86.95 percent

In his message during the oath taking, Associate Justice Henri Jean Paul B. Inting, chairperson of the 2026 SSBE, said: “The true estimation of a Shari’ah Counselor-at-Law lies not in the scope or breadth of their knowledge, but in their just application of it: whether such is used to serve rather than exclude, to heal rather than divide, and to empower rather than exploit others.”

Justice Inting also urged the new counselors-at-law to remain principled, humble, and committed to lifelong learning, as he stressed that justice is fulfilled “not merely when a case is decided, but when the law is applied with fairness and when institutions remain faithful to the duty to serve.”

He described the 2026 SSBE as part of the judiciary’s continuing efforts to build a more accessible, inclusive, and responsive justice system for Muslim Filipinos.

He then thanked Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo and his fellow associate justices for their support along with Court of Appeals Associate Justice Anisah B. Amanodin-Umpa, vice-chairperson of the 2026 SSBE; the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, the Office of the Bar Confidant, and the examiners, translators, proctors, technical teams, and security and medical personnel who ensured the successful conduct of the examinations.

He also recognized the examiners for the Shari’ah Bar subjects: Atty. Jashim A. Abdulrahman, SCL., MAIS (Jurisprudence and Customary Laws); Dean Macrina Adjerol Morados (Persons, Family Relations, and Property); Dr. Wedad Ramos Minodar (Succession, Wills, Adjudication, and Settlement of Estates); and Atty. Gapor G. Quituar (Procedure in Shari’ah Courts).

Justice Inting formally turned over his responsibilities as chairperson of the SSBE to SC Associate Justice Jose Midas P. Marquez who will be the chairperson of the 2027 SSBE.

In his message to the new counselors-at-law, Justice Marquez underscored that their oath is a solemn covenant to uphold justice, speak the truth, and protect the rights of others. He also reminded them to discharge their duties with honesty, competence, and sincerity.

There were 796 examinees in the 2026 SSBE which were administered by the SC both in English and Arabic in four testing centers nationwide.