Article I. The National Territory

(a) What are the main take away points of the decision rendered by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in PCA Case No. 2013-19, In the Matter of the South China Sea Arbitration, 12 July 2016?

(b) Can the decision be enforced against the People's Republic of China?

Article II. Declaration of Principles and State Policies

Q1.

(a) Which among the principles and state policies are binding rules which must be observed in the conduct of the government, and which are considered as guidelines for the government?

(b) What determines whether a state principle or state policy is self-executing or not self-executing?

(c) Which among the principles and state policies under Article II of the 1987 Constitution are self-executing?

Q2. China declared war and invaded the Philippines. Section 2, Article II of the 1987 Constitution mandates that: "(t)he Philippines renounces war as an instrument of national policy, adopts the generally accepted principles of international law as part of the law of the land and adheres to the policy of peace, equality, justice, freedom, cooperation, and amity with all nations." Is the Philippines prevented from going to war against China in view of the said provision in the constitution? Why?

Q3. How does international law become part of the sphere of domestic law? How is it done?

Q4. President Duterte created a joint task force between the Philippine National Police and the Philippines Marines for the enforcement of law and order in Metro Manila during the pandemic. The Makabayan bloc in Congress questions the joint task force claiming that the executive act is in violation of Section 3, Article II of the 1987 Constitution which provides that "(C)ivilian authority is, at all times, supreme over the military. x x x". Is there a violation of the civilian supremacy principle with the creation of the joint task force?

Q5. A law is passed which grants members of religious sects the privilege to join associations. Before the passage of the law, they were prohibited from joining due to the provisions of their closed shops agreement. The law is contested as unconstitutional as it allegedly violates the principle of separation of church and state. Is the law unconstitutional?

Q6. RH Law has a provision that mandates the teaching of age-and development-appropriate reproductive health education to the youth. The provision was contested as unconstitutional. Is the right and duty in the rearing of the youth for civic efficiency and the development of moral character exclusively given to the parents?

Q7 When is a suit considered a suit against the State?

Q8. (a) May the state be sued?

(b) When may the state be sued?

Q9. May government agencies be sued?

Q10. National Housing Authority (NHA), a government-owned and -controlled corporation, was sued for damages and was found liable thereto. A writ of execution was issued by the courts to carry out its judgment against the NHA. May the writ of execution be enforced?

Q11. May the State be sued by estoppel for the mistakes or errors of its officials or agents?