183 pass 2024 Shari’ah Bar exams; 9 of 11 topnotchers women 

A total of 183 examinees passed the 2024 Shari’ah Bar Examinations (SBE), the Supreme Court (SC) announced Tuesday.

In a media briefing, 2024 Shari’Ah Bar chairperson Associate Justice Maria Filomena Singh said this represents 21.45% of the 853 individuals who completed both days of the exams.

The topnotcher is Nurhaifah Hadji Said Punginagina with 86.7500%. 

She is followed by Sittie Nasriyyah Gani Gubat with 86.1000% and Sittie Fairoza Yahya Alonto with 86.0250%.

Other examinees who obtained the highest ratings are the following:

Of the top rankers, nine were women. 

Singh also noted that 62.3% of the total passers are female. 

“Notably, out of a total of 853 examinees who completed both days of the examination, 64% were women… 62.3% of the total passers are female,” she said.

Meanwhile, according to Singh, the oath-taking and roll singing ceremonies will be held on August 14, 2024 at the Manila Hotel.

The Shari’Ah Bar exams took place on April 28, Sunday and May 2, Thursday at the Ateneo de Davao University in Davao City and the University of the Philippines-Diliman.

The exams are administered to allow Muslim professionals to qualify and practice before the Shari’ah Courts in the Philippines constituted under Presidential Decree (PD) 1083, or the Code of Muslim Personal Laws of the Philippines.

“This was the first time that the SBE was chaired by a sitting member of the SC. This was to show that we aim to erase the distinctions between the regular bar examinations and the Shari’ah bar examinations,” Singh said.

The associate justice also commended those who took the exams.

“Finally, I commend all our Shari’ah bar examinees, regardless of the results today. Whether you pass or you don't, all of you deserve to be congratulated for your faith, for your determination and hard work, and for your fortitude," Singh said.

"You are here now because of everyone who believed in you and because you chose to believe in yourselves," she added.—LDF, GMA Integrated News