News media report on UP Law Faculty’s call to dismiss baseless charges against its Professors At least two news media channels have taken note of the UP Law Faculty Statement of Support posted online last Monday. The Statement denounces as harassment, charges brought against Professor Theodore Te, Professor Serafin Salvador Jr., and former Professor Florin Hilbay, along with members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and Free Legal Assistance Group. The charges based are based on claims made by Peter Joemel Advincula, a witness of dubious credibility. Citing the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers adopted in 1990 the…

Prof. Casis delivers annual Edgardo J. Angara Professorial Chair Lecture Professor Rommel J. Casis examined customary international law in his Edgardo Angara Professorial Chair Lecture at Bocobo Hall on 24 October 2019. In his lecture, “Re-Customizing Customary International Law,” Professor Casis discussed specifically one source of international law namely the Statute of the International Court of Justice. He argued that although custom is the lifeblood of international law, the concept is still problematic in many ways. His critique on customary international law as it now stands, restedmainly on the two elements of custom in general: state practice, and opinio juris…

Maynilad vs. DENR is a significant decision penned by the Philippine Supreme Court. Lawyer-Columnist of the Manila Standard, Tony La Viña describes it as “probably the best environmental decision of the Philippine Supreme Court.” In his column “Eagle Eyes” of October 15, 2019, donning his hat as law professor he discusses the four doctrines that provide the basis of the decision. The reader is introduced to the Regalian doctrine, parens patriae, police power of the State, and the public trust doctrine. In sum he explains that: “. . . the Supreme Court connected the more established Regalian and parens patriae…