UV-Gullas Law School Makes History with Successive Wins at 3rd CHR Inter-Law School Debate Tournament
- November 17, 2024 |
- UV Communications and Public Affairs Department
Actio Popularis, the first ever debate team of the Gullas Law School-International Law Students Alliance (GLD-ILSA) of the University of the Visayas (UV), made their debut in the debating scene a memorable one after pulling off historic wins on the way to finish second overall in the 3rd Inter-Law School Human Rights Debate Tournament staged last November 9-10 at the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Office in Quezon City.
Named after a class action suit in human rights cases, Actio Popularis is composed of Joshua Tambor (Necessity), Ara Mai Allego (Beneficiality), and Adin Jhon Ligsanan (Practicability) who were all tied as 4th Best Speakers.
They're under the guidance of esteemed coaches from the GLS-ILSA namely Atty. Eunice Baliong and Atty. Vertillano Relevo V, who are both professors teaching Public International Law and Constitutional Law, respectively.
"If law is to serve humanity, legal education must go beyond theory. It must not remain confined within the walls of the school. Laws must withstand the test of reality," said Relevo. "At UV GLS, we seek opportunities for students to bring their legal knowledge to bear in society."
"To the talented debaters, Joshua, Adin, and Ara, you made UV GLS and ILSA proud. We are grateful for your passion and dedication. We are excited for the future of UV-GLS and ILSA," Relevo added.
Actio Popularis kicked off their campaign with a decisive win over the Batangas State University (BSU) in the opening round.
Arguing for the affirmative on the motion, “This house would, as a third-world country, ignore the calls of the international community in pursuing climate action and would prioritize its own development,” the spirited Visayanians outwitted the Batangueños when they emphasized with savvy the common but differentiated responsibilities of states in fulfilling their international environmental law obligations.
Sustaining their momentum, they outsmarted the University of Mindanao (UM) in the second round on the motion, “This house believes that women should be the sole decision maker in medical termination of pregnancy.”
Pleading on the affirmative, Actio Popularis swept past their UM rivals by building their framework on Article II, Section 14 of the Constitution, on the State’s duty to recognize the role of women in nation-building and mandating the State to uphold gender equality, which includes respecting women’s decisions regarding their own bodies.
As action heated up in the third round, so was the line of argumentation of the GLS top bets on the way to besting the University of Sto. Tomas (UST) on the motion, “This house would remove the party-list system rather than reform it.”
Contending for the negative this time, Actio Popularis held their ground during a heated exchange and display of legal prowess against UST for their third straight victory that vaulted them to the quarterfinals of the fierce debate competition that was participated in by 24 law schools all over the country.
Their rationalization perfectly spotlighted the marriage of constitutional law and international law when they invoked Article XIII, Section 16 of the Constitution on the non-abridgment of the right of the people to effective and reasonable participation at all levels of social, political, and economic decision-making, along with the Philippines’ treaty obligations under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)on the right of indigenous peoples to participate in decision-making, highlighting the necessity of inclusive legislative representation.
"I am incredibly proud of our team’s debate victory. Their hard work and skills highlight the dedication and talent of our institution, showing the potential and bright future our students are building. This win truly reflects our shared commitment to excellence," said UV-GLS Dean Atty. Darling Chyrmyth Wagas-Estorgio.As the only representative of Central Visayas, the remarkable performance of Actio Popularis underscores GLS-ILSA’s commitment to contribute to the appreciation and awareness of international human rights law in the region. Moreover, as the region's first to establish a Center for Human Rights Education, UV plays a key role in promoting human rights awareness and education.