Two examinees tie for first place in 2026 Shari’ah Special Bar Exams

The Philippine Supreme Court (SC) said 235 examinees passed the 2026 Shari’ah Special Bar Examinations (SSBE), with two examinees tied for first place with a rating of 89.15%.

In a news release, Supreme Court Associate Justice Henri Jean Paul B. Inting, Chairperson of the 2026 SSBE, said the 235 successful examinees represent a passing rate of 29.52%.

The bar topnotchers are:

1. Bato, Ahmad Nuska 89.15%

1. Perlas, Van Regine Lim 89.15%

2. Cairodin, Cairah Abdul Azis 88.775%

3. Go, Michelle Lovely Carl Saludsod 88.575%

4. Macapintal, Hanna Nazia Sambitory 88.475%

5. Escander, Sittie Ayesah Djulaida Arindig 88.15%

6. Estrella, Mohammad Muktadir Ahmad 87.55%

7. Usman, Hanna-Tunisia Fatima 87.475%

8. Salisa, Rauda Ismael 87.15%

9. Pontanal, Alpha Carole Onrubia 86.975%

10. Misbah, Salahudden Saripada 86.95%

Link to the Full List of Bar Passers: https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2026SSBE-List-of-Passers.pdf

Currently, more than 1,000 Shari’ah counselors-at-law qualified to practice before the country’s Shari’ah courts. The new passers will be joining their ranks after the oath-taking and roll-signing ceremonies.

The examinations were conducted on May 24 and 27, 2026, across four testing centers:

• New Era University (NEU) in Quezon City,

• Ateneo de Davao University in Davao City,

• Ateneo de Zamboanga University in Zamboanga City, and

• Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology in Iligan City.

NEU also served as the national headquarters. for the exams.

The distribution across testing centers is as follows:

  - NEU: 81 examinees

  - AdDU: 164 examinees

  - AdZU: 72 examinees

  - MSU-IIT: 479 examinees

According to the SC, 1,055 applicants registered for the examinations.

The SC said 799 examinees completed the first day of examinations,

Then SC said 796 returned and completed the second day, representing a completion rate of 99.62%.

Out of 796 examinees, 267 were male while 529 were female.

Of the 796 examinees, 751 examinees took the examinations in English, while 45 took them in Arabic.

Also of this number, 536 were first-time examinees while the remaining 260 were repeat takers.

profession.

Meanwhile, the individual subject passing rates are:

• Jurisprudence and Customary Laws: 35.43%

• Persons, Family Relations, and Property: 73.87%

• Succession, Wills, Adjudication, and Settlement of Estates: 18.09%

• Procedure in Shari’ah Courts: 11.43%

  
  

Text by Veronica Pulumbarit; Graphics by Madelene Pagkatotohan/Paraluman News