Twelve teams from across the nation are competing for the top spot in the annual Philippine Red Cross (PRC) National Moot Court Competition on International Humanitarian Law (IHL), which began its preliminary rounds on Wednesday, Nov. 22.

The humanitarian organization said the preliminary rounds were conducted via Zoom, with members of the law profession, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and IHL practitioners from civil societies and government as judges.

PRC said this year's moot court problem highlights the liability of persons under IHL, specifically war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity.

"IHL is always relevant. We see its relevance all the more during these times when there are at least two armed conflicts grabbing the headlines: the Russian-Ukraine war and the Israel-Gaza war," said PRC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Richard Gordon.

The PRC chief pointed out that the moot court competition is "Red Cross's way of advocating and spreading appreciation and understanding of IHL, or the rules of war."

He also highlighted the competition's role in honing law students' advocacy and argumentation skills.

The preliminary rounds featured teams from the following universities: University of Batangas, Philippine National Police Academy, Dr. V. Orestes Romualdez Educational Foundation, Ateneo de Naga, University of San Agustin, University of the Cordilleras, University of the Philippines, Bukidnon State University, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, San Beda University, University of St. La Salle, and Ateneo de Manila.

Eight teams will emerge from the preliminary rounds, and only four will advance to the semi-final rounds, which will be held face-to-face at the PRC Tower from Nov. 28 to 29.

The top two teams from the national competition will earn the privilege of representing the Philippines at the 22nd Red Cross International Humanitarian Law Moot Court Competition Asia-Pacific rounds, scheduled for March 2024 in Hong Kong.