THE 5th National Moot Court Competition on International Humanitarian Law (IHL) will be held on November 19 and 20 at the Philippine Christian University.

The event bringing together top law schools in the Philippines is jointly hosted by the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC), International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Philippine Association of Law Schools (PAL), and the Supreme Court (SC).

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ICRC programme officer lawyer Evecar Cruz explained that a moot court is an activity where participating law schools take part in simulated court proceedings that include drafting briefs and oral arguments.

IHL only covers the Laws of Armed Conflict including the protection of victims of war and conducting warfare

Sixteen law schools nationwide have confirmed their participation including Arellano University, Ateneo de Davao University, Ateneo de Manila University, Cagayan State University, Lyceum of the Philippines, Saint Louis University (Baguio), San Beda College, Silliman University (Dumaguete), University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos (Bacolod), University of Batangas, University of Cebu, University of San Carlos (Cebu), University of San Jose-Recoletos (Cebu), University of St. La Salle (Bacolod), University of the Philippines and Xavier University (Cagayan de Oro).

This year, only five schools in Metro Manila have made it in the list, making way for the law programs of other universities in Visayas and Mindanao to gain more recognition.

Cruz said ICRC is sponsoring the airfare and hotel accommodations of the participating schools from different provinces.

The final competition will be held at the En Banc Session Hall of the SC on November 30, 3 p.m.

Cruz said this is the first competition allowed by the SC to be held in the session hall.

The winning school will represent Philippines in Hong Kong during the Asia-Pacific Moot Court Competition on March 2010. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)