235 Pass 2026 Shari’ah Special Bar Exams; Supreme Court Logs 29.52% Passing Rate

Photo Courtesy of Supreme Court PH

The Supreme Court announced on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, that 235 out of 796 examinees successfully passed the 2026 Shari’ah Special Bar Examinations (SSBE). This year's digitalized and regionalized exams yielded a 29.52% passing rate, marking an increase from the 24.48% recorded in the previous year.

The official results were presented at the SC En Banc Session Hall in Manila by Associate Justice Henri Jean Paul B. Inting, the chairperson of the 2026 SSBE.

Historic Tie at the Top

The examinations concluded with a historic tie for the top spot. Examinees Ahmad Nuska Bato and Van Regine Lim Perlas both clinched the number one position with an identical score of 89.15%. Perlas, who is already a member of the regular Philippine Bar, makes history as the first non-Muslim to top the Shari’ah Bar Exams.

Rounding out the top five performers are Cairah Abdul Azis Cairodin (88.77%) in second place, Michelle Lovely Carl Saludsod Go (88.57%) in third, Hanna Nazria Sambitory Macapintal (88.47%) in fourth, and Sittie Ayesah Djulaida Arindig Escander (88.15%) in fifth.

Demographic and Linguistic Breakdown

Data from the Supreme Court highlighted growing diversity within the specialized court system. Of the 235 successful passers, women significantly outnumbered men, with 151 female and 84 male participants successfully making the cut.

The total testing pool of 796 final examinees consisted of 529 women and 267 men. Additionally, English remained the dominant language format, with 751 examinees opting for English, while 45 completed the examinations in Arabic.

Subject Performance Rates

The High Tribunal set the baseline passing grade at 75 percent. Performance across the four main examination pillars varied significantly:

• Persons, Family Relations, and Property: 73.87% passing rate
• Jurisprudence and Customary Laws: 35.43% passing rate
• Succession, Wills, Adjudication, and Settlement of Estates: 18.09% passing rate
• Procedure in Shari'ah Courts: 11.43% passing rate

Moving Forward to Public Service

The newly minted counselors-at-law are qualified to practice Islamic law and represent clients before the country’s eight Shari'ah district courts and 63 Shari'ah circuit courts.

"Though law is not merely a profession, it is a public trust," Justice Inting said in his address to the passers. "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."

The formal oath-taking and roll-signing ceremonies for the successful examinees are scheduled to take place on July 16, 2026, at 1:00 PM at the Manila Hotel in Ermita, Manila.