U.P. IS NATIONAL CHAMPION ON IHL MOOT COURT COMPETITION

The 14th National Moot Court Competition on International Humanitarian Law (IHL) came to a close on September 27 with the University of the Philippines College of Law emerging victorious. The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) co-organized this year’s competition, supported by the host school, the Manila Adventist College of Law. Closing proceedings were held at the En Banc Hall of the Supreme Court of the Philippines.

Aside from the championship title bagged by UP College of Law’s Barzillai Josh Banogon and Vanayan Odsey, the latter was also hailed as the Best Mooter during the final round. Runners-up in the competition were Lyra Nikka Zara Vivas and Godly Ann Camitan from University of Batangas (UB). Kenneth Van Encabo, who received the Justice Leonor Ines Luciano Best Mooter Award during the elimination rounds, is from the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA), the only non-law school participating in the competition since 2015. Lastly, Saint Louis University was adjudged Role

Play Competition champion.

PRC and the ICRC have been advocating IHL in the country and through competitions such as this, have reached out to the academe for support. In his speech, ICRC Deputy Head of Delegation, Boris Kelecevic specifically mentioned that “IHL does not belong to the ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross). We want everyone to feel the ownership of the International Humanitarian Law. It doesn’t belong only to Red Cross. It primarily belongs in the field, it belongs in the battlefield where we want life and dignity of the people affected by conflict respected.”

In photo: Champions of the 14th National Moot Court Competition on IHL with final round judges– Usec Mark Perete, Justice Pablito Perez and Mr. Andrew Bell; and the heads of the Philippine Red Cross and International Committee of the Red Cross – Secretary General Elizabeth Zavalla and ICRC Deputy Head of Delegation, Boris Kelecevic.