AdDU Law beats XU, advances to ANC Law Debate Finals

Ateneo de Davao College of Law debate team won against Xavier University in the Semi-finals of ABS-CBN News Channel Square Off Law Debates – Season 2, last July 22, 2009 at the ABS-CBN Studio, Quezon City.

The team composed of Therese Xyza Gemelo, IV-Law, Vincent Juan II-Law, and Mariness Ledesma, IV-Law and coached by Atty. Israelito Torreon, got its sure ticket to the final round of the competition on August 5, 2009, which will be aired live on ANC Channel. Ledesma was adjudged as the viewer’s choice for Best Speaker.

With the proposition “Let it be resolved that Abu Sayyaf Group should be granted amnesty,” the team was assigned to propose the affirmative position. The team primarily argued that before resorting to an all out war against the ASG, the government is called upon to exhaust legal and non-violent means provided by law such as granting amnesty to those which have committed offenses in furtherance of political cause. They further argued that such move will be the government’s calibrated response to the fight against terrorism and insurgencies in the country as it will serve as a filtering process in distinguishing those who have political causes and those who are plainly terrorists.

The team from Xavier University argued on the negative side by stressing the nature of ASG as terrorist group and as such, should not be “forgiven” by granting them amnesty.

“The affirmative side (AdDU) defended an inherently difficult stand. Despite that, they were able to establish a very good case with novel and excellent arguments, which I never heard in the halls of Congress,” says Senator Franklin Drilon who chaired the judges’ panel.

On Wednesday, July 29, 2009, Ateneo de Manila will debate against University of San Carlos in another semi-final round. Whoever wins between these teams will face Ateneo de Davao in the Championship round on August 5, 2009.

Said championship round will be one of the highly celebrated events in the law and debate community as this tournament has been the top-rater since its first season in November 2008. Co-sponsored by CVC Law Firm, the tournament has been participated only by the Top 16 law schools in the country. It is also worth noting that last year, AdDU Law Team was also a finalist in this tournament.