Fortes in Fide!
The Ateneo Law Forensic, the debate team of Ateneo de Davao College of Law won against De La Salle-Far Eastern University Law School in the quarter finals of the ANC Square Off Law Debates held in ABS-CBN Studio, Quezon City on July 1, 2009. The team was composed of Therese Xyza Gemelo, IV-Law, Vincent Juan, II-Law, and Mariness Ledesma, IV Law. Gemelo and Ledesma tied as Judges' Choice for Best Speaker, while Juan was Audience's Choice for Best Speaker. The team coach and moderator is Atty. Israelito Torreon.
The proposition was "Let it be resolved that Cezar Mancao should be given immunity." The DLSU-FEU Law Team was on the affirmative side, arguing that it was necessary, beneficial, and practicable to grant witness immunity for Mancao, one of the accused in the Dacer-Corbito double murder case. Citing RA 6981 (Witness Protection Program), said team argued that Mancao holds the "key" to unveiling the truth about the case, which allegedly included top leaders in the government as the masteminds.
On the negative side, Ateneo de Davao Law Team argued that since said immunity means automatic and irreversible exoneration from his criminal liability as co-principal to the crime, it should be taken with caution, citing Sections 17 and 18 of Rule 119 of the Revised Rules on Criminal Procedure and relevant jurisprudence. The team tackled the legal non-necessity of Mancao's testimony as well as it being questionable for being conflicting, not corroborative, politically schemed, and merely a malicious afterthought to easily escape from criminal liability.
By a unanimous decision, the Ateneo de Davao Law Team emerged as winners. They will advance in the semi-finals of the tournament, which will be held in two to three week's time.
The team specially mentions and thanks the brilliant lawyers-faculty members and law students who backed them up in the preparation and case-building.
To God be all the glory!
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