The Institute of International Legal Studies of the University of the Philippines Law Center hosted the Southeast Asian Regional Rounds (SEARR) of the 29th Stetson International Environmental Law Moot Court Competition (Stetson) from January 16-18, 2025 at the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Law, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines.

Stetson is the most prestigious international environmental law moot court competition in the world, focused on tackling important global environmental challenges under the framework of international law. This year’s competition is centered on Questions Relating to Subsistence Use and Trophy Hunting (Astor v. Rishmak), a case involving the hunting of the endangered Royal Markhor.

After months of preparation, the UP Institute of International Legal Studies successfully held the largest SEARR in history, with a record-breaking number of 30 registered teams vying for the championship. The teams hailed from various countries across Southeast Asia, including Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia and the Philippines. To accommodate the high number of matches, over 79 judges were selected composed of legal experts, educators, and veteran moot court competitors. Apart from determining the winner of each match, the judges also provided insights to help the teams further develop their research, refine their arguments, and the manner in which they present them.

During the final round, the University of the Philippines’ (UP) own team went up against the Singapore Management University, Yong Pung How School of Law (SMU-YPH) which ultimately emerged as the overall champion. 

Mr. Owen Phua Xi Long was awarded Best Oralist for the final round, while Ms. Sarahlyn Dato Revillo was awarded Best Oralist for the preliminary rounds. The University of San Carlos (USC) was awarded Best Overall Memorial, followed by the University of the Philippines and Singapore Management University (SMU). 

As the top four teams in the regional rounds, SMU-YPH, UP, USC, and SMU will advance to the Stetson International Moot Court Competition at Stetson Law, Gulfport, Florida on April 9-12, 2025.

The UP College of Law, through the Institute of International Legal Studies, has been hosting SEARR for over 10 years and has dedicated itself toward the continuous improvement of the competition through the years. Under the stewardship of the UP Institute of International Legal Studies, SEARR has become a prominent venue for fostering legal excellence and environmental advocacy in Southeast Asia.