House cites UP Law for victory in US moot court competition

THE House of Representatives has adopted a resolution recognizing the University of the Philippines College of Law for its outstanding victory at the esteemed 2024 Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, held in Washington, DC on April 6.

Lawmakers adopted House Resolution 1683 was introduced by Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez and other House leaders.

Romualdez, an alumnus of the UP College of Law, expressed immense pride saying: “It is the oldest and largest world competition that tests the aptitude of students in their knowledge of international law. We are so proud of this achievement!”

The Jessup Competition, a simulation of fictitious disputes adjudicated by the International Court of Justice, witnessed the UP Law Jessup Team emerge as the sole representative from the Asia-pacific Region. Their journey culminated in a riveting final against Universidad Torcuato Di Tella of Argentina, addressing pivotal issues including political expression, statelessness, nationality rights, and UN Security Council authority in dispute resolution.

The UP Law Jessup team bested the Universidad Torcuato Di Tella of Argentina to win its historic Jessup Cup. The team is composed of law students Mary Regine

Dadole, Pauline de Leon, Pauline Samantha Sagayo, Chinzen Viernes, and Ignacio Lorenzo Villareal, with coach Prof. Marianne Vitug and faculty advisor Prof. Rommel Casis.

Villareal of the UP Law Jessup Team also clinched the Schwebel Award for Best Oralist in the championship round.

“UP Law made history in 1995 when it won the Jessup Cup and earned the Philippines its first-ever championship since the tournament’s inception in 1960, followed by the Ateneo Law School when it bagged the crown in 2004,” the resolution said.

The Jessup Competition is named after Philip C. Jessup, the United States representative to the International Court of Justice, who was elected by the United Nations to serve a nine-year term in 1961, had a long and distinguished academic, judicial, and diplomatic career, and played a key role in the formation of the International Law Commission.

“The outstanding performance of the University of the Philippines College of Law Jessup Team deserves utmost commendation and praise for bringing great honor and prestige to the Filipino people and inspiring future generations of legal scholars and practitioners,” the resolution continued.

A copy of the resolution will be given to the UP College of Law.