When the smoke in the mock courtroom battle has cleared, Ateneo de Manila University was the only team left standing.

Ateneo de Manila’s Michelle Suarez and Iniego Carl Varon bagged the 2009 National Moot Court Competition on International Humanitarian Law Champion Cup, besting University of San Carlos’ Mac Lord Zafra and Rhea Stephanie Mina in the Final Round held at the Supreme Court En Banc Session Hall on November 20.

Arguing as Applicant for the match, Ateneo de Manila displayed superior argumentation skills and knowledge of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) before the panel of judges led by Supreme Court Associate Justice Roberto A. Abad to earn the right to represent the country in the 8th Red Cross IHL Moot Court Competition to be held in Hong Kong in early 2010.

Ateneo de Manila also won the Best Memorials Award, while Suarez as the team’s first counsel was adjudged Best Mooter in the Final Round. Terrence Anton Callao of Silliman University was Best Mooter in the General Rounds, which were held in the Philippine Christian University.

Organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross and Philippine National Red Cross-IHL Committee, in association with the Supreme Court of the Philippines and the Philippine Association of Law Schools, the competition attracted 16 teams from different law schools around the country.

Among the participating law schools were Arellano University, Ateneo De Davao University, Cagayan State University, Lyceum of the Philippines, Saint Louis University (Baguio City), San Beda College, University of Batangas, University of Cebu, University of Saint La Salle (Bacolod City), University of San Jose Recoletos, University of the Philippines, Xavier University (Cagayan de Oro City).

(Mr Galang is a Project Evaluation Officer IV in the Program Management Office of the Supreme Court)