2019 Bar topnotcher Mae Diane Azores revealed that the unresolved rape-slay case of her classmate motivated her to become a lawyer.
The University of Santo Tomas-Legazpi law graduate said her classmate Laesybil Almonacid, 19, was found dead in the village of Bascaran in Daraga on a grassy lot near a military detachment on November 2, 2011.
Almonacid was Azorez’s classmate when she was a third-year accountancy student of the state-run Bicol University (BU) in Daraga.
“What happened was so frustrating that it motivated me to take up law… so I could contribute to the justice system,” Azores said in an interview over local radio station Zagitzit-FM.
“To the parents of Laesybil, don’t lose hope. Have faith in God. Justice can still be served,“ she said.
The 2019 Bar topnotcher said she is also interested in the problematic situation of displaced workers due to the COVID-19 crisis.
“The first person who predicted that I could be a Bar topnotcher was my professor in labor laws,” she said.
Retired judge Arnulfo Cabredo, Azores’ former professor, said he knew that the Bicolana would be top the Bar.
“Diane was a very diligent law student. I knew she would make it to the Top 10,” Cabredo said.
Azores also encouraged other law students in the provinces that they do not need to study in Manila to become topnotchers.
“Gusto ko rin po talagang i-uplift din yung spirit ng mga provincial law schools,” she said in an interview with Super Radyo dzBB.
(I would like to uplift the spirit of provincial law schools.)
“Kaya isa rin po talagang pangarap ko na mag-top para ma-inspire po yung mga estudyante na nasa probinsiya na hindi kailangan na mag-enroll sa Manila pa o kung saan kasi nasa estudyante talaga ‘yun. Kung gugustuhin nilang mag-top, kakayanin nila,” she added.
Also read: List of Passers 2019 Bar Exam Results
2019 Bar topnotchers
|
Rank |
Name | School |
Rating |
| 1st place | Azores, Maine Diane D. | University of Santo Tomas-Legazpi | 91.0490% |
| 2nd place | Parahiman, Princess Fatima T. | University of the East | 89.5230% |
| 3rd place | Baranda, Myra M. | University of Santo Tomas-Legazpi | 88.8250% |
| 4th place | Bandiola, Dawn Fya O. | San Beda College- Alabang | 88.3360% |
| 5th placed | Fabello, Jocelyn B. | Palawan State University | 88.2630% |
| 6th place | Manuel, Kennetg Glenn L. | University of Santo Tomas | 88.1730% |
| 7th place | Buergo, Rhowee D. | Jose Rizal University | 87.8701% |
| 8th place | Avila, Anton Luis A. | Saint Louis University | 87.5820% |
| 9th place | Rojas, Jun Dexter H. | Polytechnic University of the Philippines | 87.5765% |
| 10th place | Madera, Bebelan A. | University of St. La Salle | 87.3795% |