MANILA -- Students of the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Law won the 22nd Stetson International Environmental Law Moot Court Competition (IEMCC) in Florida after beating 22 teams from 15 countries around the globe last month.
The team defeated the National Law Institute University of India in the final round and also won 2nd Best Memorial on March 24.
The competition had the theme, "Responses to highly pathogenic avian influenza and transboundary wetlands".
The win comes after the college landed in second place last year, with students from the Gujarat National Law University in India championing the competition with the theme "Ocean Fertilization and Marine Biodiversity".
This year's Philippine team was composed of Marianne Crielle Vitug, who also won Best Oralist; Marianne Angeli Estioco, who also won fourth Best Oralist; and Mikaela Bernardino. The UP students were coached by Prof. Rommel Casis.
The Stetson IEMCC is the most prestigious environmental law moot court competition in the world, with 80 teams vying for the championship since it started in 1996.
This year's competition was hosted by the Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport, Florida on March 22-24.
Stetson University was founded in 1883 and was ranked first place for trial advocacy and second for legal writing, according to a US News and World Report. (PNA)
