The 16th National Moot Court Competition on International Humanitarian Law (IHL), organized by the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), successfully concluded on October 14 with the University of San Agustin (USA) College of Law emerging victorious. The Manila Adventist College of Law, the host school, supported the competition.
The USA bested the University of the Philippines in the final round held at the Microtel by Wyndham, Mall of Asia. The USA bagged the Best Memorial and Best Defense Memorial Awards. In the elimination round, USA’s Ervin S. Caro and Ancel D’Cunha took the 2nd Best Mooter and Best Mooter spots respectively, with the latter receiving the Justice Leonor Ines Luciano Best Mooter Award in the final round. USA College of Law will represent the Philippines in the regional rounds in Hong Kong in March 2023. Philippine National Police Academy, the only non-law school participating in the competition since 2015 meanwhile, earned the spot to represent the Philippines in the Jean-Pictet Role Play Competition in Albania in February 2023 after winning the Role-Play Challenge of the competition.
Eleven law schools from across the country participated in the simulated appellate proceedings in person. “We see an increasing number of law schools participating in the ICRC and PRC National Moot Court Competition on IHL yearly. This is a sign that there is a growing academic interest in IHL,” reported Richard J. Gordon, Chairman and CEO of PRC.
PRC and the ICRC have been promoting International Humanitarian Law (IHL) in the country. In his speech, ICRC Deputy Head of Delegation Boris Michel specifically mentioned that, “IHL (International Humanitarian Law) is very relevant in the Philippines. The cases of armed conflict have resulted in the Philippines becoming a leading example in Asia in terms of domestic legislation which implement the Philippines obligations on the IHL.”
“We have many displaced kababayans who sought refuge in evacuation centers in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental because of armed conflict. Kaya ngayon, higit kailanman, mas kinakailangan nating pagtibayin ang adbokasiya ng International Humanitarian Law,” Chairman Gordon added.
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