05/12/2025
๐๐ฎ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐ฎ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐จ๐ป๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐๐ โ ๐๐ผ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ด๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฏ๐๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ญ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ป๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ-๐จ๐ฝ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ก๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ ๐ผ๐ผ๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐๐
Batangas State University, The National Engineering University (BatStateU The NEU), proudly secured 1st Runner-Up at the 2025 ICRC National Moot Court Competition on International Humanitarian Law (IHL), held from December 1 to 4, 2025, establishing its College of Law as the countryโs second-best IHL moot court team this year. The team demonstrated exceptional command of IHL not only in oral arguments but also in written advocacy, earning 1st Runner-Up awards for both Best Memorial (Prosecution) and Best Memorial (Defense), placing its submissions among the top in the national rounds.
Over the four-day competition, the team presented compelling arguments in a simulated Pre-Trial Chamber proceeding before the International Criminal Court (ICC), demonstrating their capability to translate theoretical knowledge into professional courtroom advocacy.
This year marks a historic milestone for the University, as it is the first time that its College of Law has participated in any moot court competition. The University was represented by its pioneering team composed of Elijah Daniel Espiritu (1st Counsel), Janina Danielle De Ramos (2nd Counsel), Maylene Manalo (Alternate Counsel), and researchers Joseph Pangisban and Ara May Fabregas.
The decision to participate in the national IHL moot evidences the Universityโs commitment to strengthening practical legal training and responding to pressing global and national concerns involving international humanitarian law, accountability, and the role of the ICC in addressing grave crimes, which are issues that remain deeply relevant to current public discourse in the Philippines.
This yearโs moot problem centered on the prosecution of a head of state for the war crimes of murder and torture under the Rome Statute, examining command responsibility, individual criminal liability, protected status of victims, and the classification of an armed conflict. The case required extensive application of foundational principles of international humanitarian law within the context of international criminal justice โ allowing students to engage with legal issues that directly intersect with contemporary challenges faced by the Philippines and the global community.
The team was guided by Atty. Noel Alberto S. Omandap (Head Coach), and Atty. Janice S. Gonzales (Dean, College of Law; Assistant Coach), whose mentorship played an integral role in the teamโs success.
