235 pass 2026 Shari'ah Special Bar Exam

MANILA, Philippines — A total of 235 out of 796 examinees passed the 2026 Shari’ah Special Bar Examinations (SSBE), representing a passing rate of 29.52 percent.

The announcement was made by Supreme Court Associate Justice Henry John Paul B. Inting, chairperson of this year’s exams, who highlighted the critical role of the Shari’ah justice system in the broader Philippine legal framework.

“The Shari’ah Special Bar examinations occupy a unique place in our legal system,” Inting said.

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“They help ensure that the administration of justice remains responsive to the needs of Muslim Filipinos while strengthening the integration of the Shari’ah justice system within our broader legal framework,” he added.

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The result yielded a historic tie for the top spot, with Van Regine Lim Perlas and Ahmad Nuska Bato both clinching the number one position with an identical score of 89.15%.

Khaira Abdul Aziz Khairuddin ranked second place with a score of 88.775%, while Michelle Lovely Carl Salutsur Goh ranked third with a ratong of 88.575%.

In fourth and fifth spots are Hanna Nazia Sambitory Macapintal and Sittie Ayesah Djulaida Arindig Escander with ratings of 88.475% and 88.15%, respectively.

They are followed by Mohammad Muktadir Ahmad Estrella and Hanna-Tunisia Fatima Usman in sixth and seventh spots, with ratings of 87.55% and 87.475%, respectively.

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In 8th to 10th places are Rauda Ismael Salisa, 87.15%, Alpha Carole Onrubia Pontanal, 86.975% and Salahudden Saripada Misbah, 86.95%.

One hundred fifty one of the passers are women and 84 men.

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This gender distribution, Inting noted, underscores the “growing participation of both men and women in the continued development of the Shari’ah justice system.”

Based on the data released by the Supreme Court, passing rates varied significantly across individual examination subjects:

Persons, Family Relations, and Property: 73.87%

Jurisprudence and Customary Laws: 35.43%

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

Procedure in Shari’ah Courts: 11.43%

The examinations showcased regional and linguistic inclusivity.

Testing centers were scattered across Metro Manila and Mindanao, with 479 candidates completing the tests at Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology, 164 at Ateneo de Davao University, 81 at New Era University, and 72 at Ateneo de Zamboanga University.

Notably, while 751 examinees took the exam in English, 45 candidates availed themselves of the Arabic language format, reflecting the deep-rooted tradition of Arabic legal scholarship in the country.

Meanwhile, addressing the successful candidates, Inting reminded them that their new roles go beyond professional achievement.

“Law is not merely a profession, it is a public trust. The knowledge you have acquired and the qualifications you have earned carry with them a continuing obligation to serve others with competence, fairness, and integrity.”

He also offered words of encouragement to those who did not pass, noting that the journey requires resilience and that today’s results do not define their potential.

The 235 new Shari’ah counselors-at-law are scheduled to hold their formal oath-taking and roll-signing ceremonies on July 16, 2026, at 1:00 PM at the Manila Hotel in Ermita, Manila. /gsg

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