The Legal Education Board (LEB) has issued a resolution canceling the accreditation of the Mindanao State University (MSU) College of Law, revoking its government recognition, and effectively ordering the closure of its law programs across all campuses beginning the Academic Year (A.Y.) 2025-2026.
The resolution follows MSU’s continued 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.
Consequently, MSU is no longer included in the list of Legal Education Institutions in good standing and authorized to offer the basic law program in the country.
In addition, the LEB has made permanent the Cease and Desist Order (CDO) previously issued against the extension law programs of MSU at its Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, and Maguindanao campuses. This decision follows MSU’s continuing defiance of LEB’s order to cease the operation of its extension law programs without the requisite authority from the LEB.
The LEB also expressed concern over the dismal performance of MSU’s law graduates in the bar examinations, with passing rates consistently below the national average. The Board stated that, given MSU’s non-submission to the Board’s authority, the bar examination results were the only independent measure available to evaluate the quality of education dispensed by MSU.
Beginning A.Y. 2025-2026, the LEB shall no longer recognize the units earned by the students who will continue to enroll in the law program of MSU College of Law.
While MSU filed a Petition for Arbitration before the Office of the Solicitor General, the LEB has not received any injunction issued by a court of competent jurisdiction against the implementation of its decision.
SOURCE: Legal Education Board
