UP-Law wins international moot court competition

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines won the top prize at the prestigious Asia Cup 2009 International Law Moot Court Competition held in Japan.

The University of the Philippines’ (UP) College of Law bested other Asian countries when it competed with China’s Renmin University, Indonesia’s Padjadjaran University and Parahyangan Catholic University, Japan’s Kyoto University and Tokyo University, Nepal’s Kathmandu School of Law, Singapore’s National University of Singapore, Thailand’s Thammasat University and Vietnam’s Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam on Aug. 24-25.

Hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, the Asia Cup is a prime event in the field of international law moot court and has offered outstanding opportunities to promote fellowship among the representatives from different Asian countries.

It has also gained growing recognition as an international cooperation in the realm of human rights education. Since 1999, the Philippines has won the Asia Cup seven times: in 2000, 2003, 2007 and 2009 represented by the University of the Philippines; and in 1999, 2002 and 2008 represented by the Ateneo De Manila University.

The 2009 Philippine team, composed of UP Law students Daniel Sigfreid Corpuz, Marie Michelle Go, and Darwin Ocampo, was adjudged overall champion and awarded the Foreign Minister’s Award. The team also won the Best Memorial Award for the best written pleading.

Corpuz and Go were awarded the Best Oralist and Third Best Oralist, respectively. The team was coached to victory by UP Law Professor Rowena Daroy-Morales.