31/03/2026
๐๐๐๐๐-๐๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐ข๐ซ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ "๐๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ก ๐จ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐ฌ" ๐๐จ๐จ๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง
The inaugural Clash of Counsels 2026 successfully concluded its first edition of the Public International Law (PIL) moot court competition on March 29, 2026, held at the SPSPS Library.
Organized by the SPSPS Law Moot and Debate Society, this landmark event served as a practical final evaluation for PIL students in lieu of the traditional written examinations.
The competition commenced with the intensive preliminary rounds, where student oralists represented their respective sections across three distinct roles within a simulated International Criminal Court (ICC): the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP), the Legal Representative of Victims (LRV), and the Defence. These matches tested the students' mastery of international statutes and their ability to pivot between different legal perspectives.
Following three grueling preliminary matches, JD-2B emerged as the top-scoring team. Exercising their first-seed advantage, JD-2B chose to represent the OTP in the final round, while Team JD-2A and JD-2D assumed the roles of LRV and Defence, respectively.
The final round escalated into a sophisticated display of wit and legal mastery as each team delivered their final arguments before a distinguished board of judges.
The panel featured Atty. Mikko Solis as President, supported by co-panelists Atty. Robbin Docena, Hesus Bucatcat, and Lourieniel Dacillo.
After a rigorous deliberation on the merits of the oral arguments, JD-2A, representing the LRV, was declared the overall winner of the competition. JD-2D (Defence) followed as the first runner-up, with JD-2B (OTP) placing third.
Individual excellence was also a highlight of the event. Mamerto Caliwan, Jr. of JD-2A delivered a standout performance, earning the title of Overall Best Oralist and the award for Best Oralist for LRV. Other top individual honors were bestowed upon Aljon Malot for Best Oralist for OTP and Mac Bruen Ibaรฑez for Best Oralist for Defence.
Meanwhile, JD-2B took home the Overall Best in Memorial Award along with the Best Memorials for both the LRV and Defence categories. Team JD-2A secured the Best Memorial for the OTP.
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Contributed Photos Courtesy of Floramay Bacus, Bernard Ace Romano, and Wangari Casio