New Era University designated national headquarters for 2026 Shari’ah Special Bar Exams in May

The Supreme Court has officially designated New Era University (NEU) as the National Headquarters (NHQ) for the 2026 Shari’ah Special Bar Examinations (SSBE).

According to a news release of the Office of the Spokesperson of the SC, this partnership was formalized through a contract signed on April 13, 2026, at the Supreme Court En Banc Session Hall in Manila.

As the national headquarters, NEU will serve as the command center for the nationwide administration of the SSBE on May 24 and May 27, 2026.

While NEU previously served as a local testing center for the 2025 Bar Examinations, it has taken on an expanded role this year as the National Headquarters (NHQ) for the SSBE. This milestone reflects a shared responsibility in advancing the administration of justice.

Aside from being the national headquarters of the SSBE, the university will be one of the four testing centers. The others are Mindanao State University–Iligan Institute of Technology in Iligan City, Ateneo de Davao University in Davao City, and Ateneo de Zamboanga University in Zamboanga City.

The 2026 SSBE will cover four subjects:

• Jurisprudence (Fiqh) and Customary Laws (Adat) [15%]

• Persons, Family Relations, and Property [35%]

• Succession, Wills/Adjudication, and Settlement of Estates [35%]

• Procedure in the Shari’ah Courts [15%]

The examination questions will be based solely on laws, rules, and jurisprudence as of August 8, 2025.

Examinees have the option to take the examinations in either English or Arabic.

CONTRACT SIGNING CEREMONY

Meanwhile, Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo and SC Associate Justice Henri Jean Paul B. Inting, Chairperson of the 2026 SSBE, led the contract signing ceremony.

“The SSBE is more than just an academic undertaking. It is a manifestation of the Court’s constitutional duty to guarantee access to justice for everyone. It recognizes the legal traditions and rich cultural heritage of our Muslim brothers and sisters," Inting said.

" Our justice system is more effective when it is inclusive and provides opportunity for all qualified individuals to serve," he added.

For his part, New Era University (NEU) President and Board of Trustees Chairperson Dr. Alberto R. Domingo, Jr., expressed gratitude for the SC's trust in the university.

He noted that the late retired Associate Justice Serafin R. Cuevas, former Dean of the university's College of Law, brought SC Justices to grace NEU’s commencement exercises over the years.

Aside from Gesmundo and Inting, those who attended the contract signing ceremony included Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo and SC Associate Justices Amy C. Lazaro-Javier, Japar B. Dimaampao, Jose Midas P. Marquez, Antonio T. Kho, Jr., and Raul B. Villanueva.

The agreement was signed by Clerk of Court En Banc Atty. Marife M. Lomibao-Cuevas for the SC and NEU President and Board of Trustees Chairperson Dr. Alberto R. Domingo, Jr. for the university.

Atty. Maria Carina A. Matammu-Cunanan, Deputy Clerk of Court and Chief Administrative Officer, served as the notary.

Witnesses included Deputy Clerk of Court Atty. Marilyn I. De Joya and NEU Officer-in-Charge Corporate Secretary Atty. Emmi Rose T. Canicosa.

-Paraluman News