Mindanao State University. 鈥擯hoto from MSU/website
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The Mindanao State University (MSU) on Saturday said it would continue to operate its law programs across all its campuses despite the Legal Education Board鈥檚 (LEB) resolution ordering the cancellation.
In a statement, MSU argued it was Congress that passed the university鈥檚 charter under Republic Act No. 1387 in 1955 mandating the creation of the College of Law and that LEB was not authorized to amend the charter by ordering the closure of the school鈥檚 juris doctor program.
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On Friday, two days before the Bar examination, the LEB released a resolution revoking the accreditation of MSU College of Law, effectively ordering the closure of its law programs across all campuses starting in the academic year 2025-2026.
Dismal performance
The resolution, according to the LEB, was due to MSU鈥檚 鈥渃ontinued rejection of the regulatory jurisdiction and supervisory authority of the LEB, and its refusal to be bound by the orders, policies, standards, and guidelines on legal education.鈥�
鈥淐onsequently, MSU is no longer included on the list of Legal Education Institutions in good standing and authorized to offer the basic law program in the country,鈥� it said.
The Board also raised alarm over the 鈥渄ismal performance鈥� of MSU鈥檚 law graduates in the Bar examinations, with passing rates consistently below the national average.
Given MSU鈥檚 鈥渘onsubmission鈥� to the LEB鈥檚 authority, the Board said the Bar exam results were the only independent measure available to evaluate the quality of education dispensed by MSU.
However, MSU argued that its College of Law is exempted from LEB鈥檚 coverage under Republic Act No. 7662, Section 12, which specifies that only schools under the supervision of the Department of Education, Culture, and Sports at the time of the law鈥檚 passage in 1993 fall within LEB鈥檚 jurisdiction.
The LEB is under the Office of the President. Based on its website, the Board鈥檚 mandate is 鈥渢o reform and uplift the standards of legal education in the country.鈥欌�� Among its functions are supervision, setting the standards, and accreditation of law schools.