MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews / 20 March) – Three of the 11 bar examinees of the Bukidnon State University made it, but there were mixed feelings whether to celebrate or not because one of the passers could no longer join them for the party: he was gunned down last January.
Gino Antonio Zambrano, who was kagawad (councilor) of Barangay Poblacion in neighboring Valencia City, was shot five times on January 22 near his residence as he was driving his Multicab from a committee hearing at the barangay hall. He was hit in the head, chest, and back. He failed to reach the Laviña General Hospital alive.
He was 26 years old. In his Facebook account, Zambrano described himself as one who loved challenges. “I love being the last one in the line,” he said.
Zambrano was an active youth leader of the local Catholic church who started as an altar boy. He was former Sangguniang Kabataan chair of his barangay.
Facebook postings calling for justice for Gino.
Meyushi Pabillaran, secretary of BSU’s college of law, said the two others who passed the October 2012 bar examinations are Marco R. Hinlo and Asis G. Cubillan.
Pabillaran said the news was met with mixed reactions at BSU.
Jovito Borbon, chair of Barangay Poblacion, said his fellow officials and workers at barangay government shed tears upon hearing the news he passed the bar.
Zambrano was replaced by her sister Annalou in the barangay council.
Ignatius Ingles, a graduate of the Ateneo de Manila Law School, topped the October 2012 bar examinations with 85.64 percent. Only 17.76 percent of the 5,343 total number of examinees passed, a far cry from the previous year’s 31.95-percent passing rate.
The Supreme Court website provided three links, among them http://121.58.195.99/bar2012.html, for the complete list of passers. (Walter I. Balane/MindaNews)
