Son of habal-habal driver tops criminologist licensure exam

From riding at the back of his father's habal-habal to securing the second-highest rank in a national licensure exam, Jervie Keith Apas Marikit has brought pride to Danao City after placing second in the August 2025 Criminologist Licensure Examination (CLE).

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The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced on September 15 that 13,074 of the 25,410 examinees successfully passed the exam, reflecting a national passing rate of 51.45 percent.

Among the top performers was Marikit of Colegio de San Antonio de Padua in Danao City, who earned a 92.35 percent rating.

On Tuesday, September 16, Marikit received P100,000 from the Carl E. Balita Review Center (CBRC), personally handed over by founder Dr. Carl E. Balita, in an awarding ceremony held at the University of the Visayas gymnasium in Cebu City.

His father joined him during the event, expressing happiness and deep pride in his son’s achievement despite the family’s financial challenges.

Marikit, still single, said he hopes to pursue a career in law enforcement.

In a press conference, Marikit, the eldest of five children, credited his success to perseverance, faith, and family support.

“This achievement is not just mine, it’s also for my family, who never gave up on me despite our struggles. I put God first, and I believed in myself,” he said.