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UP Baguio whips La Salle Bacolod in 'Frankahan'

abs-cbnNEWS.com | 11/22/2008 9:26 AM

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University of the Philippines-Baguio (UP Baguio) showed no mercy in the qualifying round of Square Off: Frankahan - The Drilon Debates as the debaters from the "City of Pines" passionately engaged the neophyte team of University of St. La Salle-Bacolod.

With the motion that "this house resolves that the appointments of the judiciary should be subject to Congressional confirmation," it was an initiation of La Salle Bacolod into the parliamentary debate format.

UP Baguio proposed a two-thirds vote from Congress, arguing that such will boost the judiciary's credibility and eliminate accusations of gratitude politics as it will hold both the president and Congress accountable for their decisions.

La Salle Bacolod opposed the motion, saying that Congress' meddling with the Judiciary and Bar Council (JBC) will only politicize the process of the judiciary.

While the Bacolod team gave thorough arguments, their inexperience was evident in the lack of responsiveness to the Baguio team's arguments. La Salle Bacolod chose to cite the country's sorry experience with the Congressional confirmation mode--precisely why it was abolished--only with the last speaker.

"I think you guys need to work on being a little more comparative--like when you launch your rebuttals. Also, speed up your responses a little more," Adjudicator Sharmila Parmanand told the La Salle team.

Acknowledging UP Baguio's consistency and teamwork, the judges handed UP Baguio a unanimous win. La Salle Bacolod, now having experienced the parliamentary format, vowed to redeem itself next time.

Square Off: Frankahan - The Drilon Debates airs every Wednesday, 8-9p.m., on ANC. Replays Thurs 1p.m. and Sat 2 p.m. 

as of 11/29/2008 1:10 AM