By: CCJE College Student Council
The College of Criminal Justice Education (CCJE) proudly celebrates its remarkable achievement as the Champion of the UC Intercollegiate Debate Championship (ICDC) 2026, held on June 24–25 at the University of the Cordilleras. The tournament brought together colleges from across the university in a showcase of critical thinking, persuasive communication, and academic excellence.
Representing CCJE were Criminology students Jeriza Laplana and Julius Calias, together with Forensic Science students Jekuthiel Kim and Kharl Benedict Cruz. Through their dedication, teamwork, and intellectual excellence, they proudly carried the banner of the college throughout the competition.
A special recognition is extended to Jekuthiel Kim and Kharl Benedict Cruz, who advanced to the Semi-Finals and Grand Finals. Their outstanding performance culminated in a championship finish, with Kharl Benedict Cruz also receiving the Best Speaker in the Finals Award.
The success of the tournament was further strengthened by the leadership of Mario Oriana III, a Forensic Science student from CCJE, who served as the Debate Program Director and played a vital role in the successful conduct of the championship. The competition was independently adjudicated by an esteemed panel of judges from leading universities, namely Dylan Salcedo (University of the Philippines Diliman), Kyle Ancheta (University of the Cordilleras College of Law), Ron Bunsoy (University of the Philippines Baguio), Alexis Mondiguing (Saint Louis University), Jack Casela (Bulacan State University College of Law), and Anri Semba (Far Eastern University), ensuring that every round was evaluated fairly, professionally, and with the highest standards of competitive debating.
This victory reflects the dedication, perseverance, and excellence of the entire CCJE delegation. Congratulations to our debaters and organizers for bringing pride and honor to the College of Criminal Justice Education.
Congratulations! Your passion, perseverance, and excellence have made this victory possible. We are proud of each and every one of you for bringing pride and honor to our college.
This achievement aligns with SDG 4 (Quality Education) by recognizing academic excellence and strengthening students’ critical thinking, communication, and analytical skills through competitive learning. It also supports SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) by promoting reasoned discourse, ethical argumentation, and evidence-based decision-making—essential competencies in criminology, forensic science, and the justice system.
