DAVAO CITY — The Philippine Army is proud to introduce the latest laurel from their ranks, Sergeant Jerame A. Arreza, a non-commissioned officer who recently took her oath as one of the new lawyers in the country.
While serving the army, she went to the law school at Arellano Law School where she got her Bachelor of Laws degree.
Arreza is among the 2,103 successful bar passers out of the 7,685 examinees passed 2019 bar exams who took her oath in the first-ever online oath-taking last June 25.
In a Facebook post of the Philippine Army, it quoted Arreza saying “It was really my dream to become a lawyer”.
She joined the army in 2005, “It was a calling I think. I was first an applicant of CIDG-PNP (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group – Philippine National Police) when one of my classmates invited me to PSG (Presidential Security Group) as there was a quota at t time.”
The same post stated that Arreza said “Being a probinsyana, I thought PSG are civilians like the Secret Service of the U.S. Then the PSG sent us to 7th Infantry Division for candidate soldier training,” she recalled.
Arreza is from Baliwasan Grande, Zamboanga City who graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Criminology degree from Western Mindanao State University in 2003.
She was enlisted into the Armed Forces of the Philippines and became part of the agency tasked to secure the President of the Republic of the Philippines.
Being a soldier in duty while going to law school was a challenge, both worlds demand time and dedication “being on call 24/7, and at the same time, handling the pressure of law studies,” it added.
According to the post, while Arreza spent for her tuition, she did not miss sending support to her family and relatives in Zamboanga, there were times “Iiyak, then tuloy uli. Army eh,” notes Arreza.
Realizing her dream to become a lawyer took a major turn, as she narrated when she was assigned to former Solicitor General now Secretary of Justice Agnes Devanadera, “Mas na-encourage ako to pursue my dreams noong na-detail ako as close-in security to former Solicitor General/Secretary of Justice Agnes Devanadera,” she added.
She also drew inspiration and support from soldier and lawyer friend.
When the bar examination result was released, she recalled “Masaya, nanghina, tumatawa, umiiyak,” as congratulatory messages flooded in various platforms.
She broke the news about passing the bar, first to her mother whom she said was not aware that she took the bar exams.
Arreza was quoted saying “My goal is to serve the AFP as JAGS (Judge Advocate General Service) officer”.
Her new prefix will be sealed once she signs the roll of attorneys before the Supreme Court, at the moment she will become a full-fledged lawyer, which will happen this month.
The Philippine Army said Arreza is a person with a heart molded-in Philippine Army’s core values of honor, patriotism, and duty; Arreza defied the limitations to reach the dreams that will further equip her in serving the Filipino people and the nation.
To her colleagues in the command, she has this to say “Whatever your rank and position is in the organization you should not limit yourself. You should have to aim high and when you have the chance and opportunity for career and self-improvement, go for it!”.-Editha Z. Caduaya with narrative from Philippine Army
