Ateneo de Davao Law wins over Ateneo de Manila

Ateneo de Davao Law is really catching up with top law schools in Manila.

Thus said former Defense Secretary Atty. Avelino “Nonong” Cruz, Partner of CVC Law Firm, before declaring Ateneo de Davao Law Debate Team as Champion in the second season of ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC) Square Off Law Debates on August 12, 2009 at ABS CBN Studio, Quezon City. This season’s tournament was participated by top 16 law schools in the country.

After beating University of the Philippines Law in the International Humanitarian Law Debates in May 2009, AdDU Law has once again excelled by winning against Ateneo de Manila Law this time. The team is composed of Therese Xyza Gemelo – IV Law, Vincent Juan – II Law, Mariness Ledesma – IV Law, with Atty. Israelito Torreon as their coach and the moderator of the Ateneo Forensic (AdDU Law’s Debate Team). Juan and Ledesma were awarded Judges’ Choice and Audience’s Choice for Best Speakers, respectively.

With the proposition “Let it be resolved that Maximum Drug Retail Price (MDRP or Executive Order No. 821) Should be Scrapped,” AdMU Law argued on the affirmative side while AdDU on the negative. The AdMU Law Team primarily argued that MDRP should be scrapped because we have existing laws, which address the problem of drug accessibility, particularly to these five most prescribed drugs under MDRP. As an alternative, said team proposed that the government should strengthen the Generic Drugs Law, among others, and not impose price ceiling.

On the other hand, AdDU Law Team showed their prowess in legal argumentation by defending the cause of MDRP and how it operates as immediate response to the urgent problem of drug accessibility, while better legislation and law enforcement are still works-in-progress. Backed up by relevant laws and recent research findings, they argued that since the issue involves a continuing problem in public health, there should be a balance between immediate response and long term solution.

On the way to this all-Ateneo Finals, AdDU Law routed University of the East in the eliminations, Far Eastern University-La Salle Law in the Quarterfinal, and Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan in the Semifinal.

The winning debaters won prizes such as brand new laptop-notebooks and free subscription to online law encyclopedia and jurisprudence. Juan was given free flight and vacation package for two to Nami Beach in Boracay while Ledesma was given vacation package in One Place Tagaytay and SM gift certificates.

The Ateneo Forensic, thru the leadership of Kristine Ferrer – IV Law, expresses its appreciation to its members, alumni-barristers, alumni-lawyers, and law school professors for their very valuable support.

AdDU Law Debate Team wins against La Salle-FEU

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!