Comparative Analysis of the MOA on Ancestral Domain and the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro

On his new term as FLP professorial chair holder, Dean Sedfrey M. Candelaria of the Ateneo Law School delivered his second public lecture on November 29, 2013. Presenting a “Comparative Analysis of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain and the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro” (view PDF file), Dean Candelaria followed-through the earlier public lecture delivered by Dean Reynaldo U. Agranzamendez (University of the Cordilleras), who focused on indigenous peoples’ rights, ancestral domain claims, and their economic implications.

His lecture attracted a large group of Public International Law students, among others. Demonstrating how his chosen topic is relevant to International law, Dean Candelaria opined that the implications of the two agreements engender not only political repercussions, but economic interests as well. He concluded noting how principles of liberty and prosperity are fundamental in the drafting of the said proposals, affecting not only select communities but the nation as a whole.

The open forum welcomed insightful comments and additional discussions from FLP Education Committee Chair Dr. Edilberto C. de Jesus (also former Philippine Department of Education Secretary and Deputy Commissioner of the Presidential Office of the Peace Commission) and Ateneo Law Professor Atty. Camilo Miguel M. Montesa (also former head of the Peacemaking and Peacekeeping Group in the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process or OPAPP).

Apart from Ateneo Law faculty and students, the event was also attended by guests from Metrobank Foundation and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Dean Candelaria delivered his first lecture entitled “Finance & Law: Understanding the Institutional and Functional Role of the International Monetary Fund During Sovereign Debt Crisis Situations” on September 21, 2012. This was commended by the FLP for “setting a high standard” in the FLP professorial lecture series.

Dean Candelaria has an undergraduate degree in Political Science at the Ateneo de Manila University in 1980. In 1984, he graduated from the Ateneo de Manila University School of Law and ranked among the top 20% of the law school graduating batch and received a grade of 83.2% in the 1984 Bar Examinations. In 1986, he left for graduate studies in law at the University of British Columbia (Vancouver, Canada) as a Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholar and was conferred the degree of Master of Laws in the field of Public International Law.

In 2004, Dean Candelaria was appointed by the President of the Republic of the Philippines as a Member of the Negotiating Panel for the Peace Talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines, the New Peoples’ Army and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (CPP/NPA/NDF). He also chairs the Government of the Republic of the Philippines Monitoring Committee on the Comprehensive Agreement in Respect of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law.

Dean Candelaria was recently invited to teach at the Master of Laws Program jointly administered by the Supreme Court Philippine Judicial Academy (PHILJA) and the San Beda College Graduate Program in Law.

29 November 2013
Dean Sedfrey M. Candelaria
Ateneo de Manila University School of Law
“Comparative Analysis of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain
and the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro” (download PDF)

FLP Education Committee Chair and Former Education Secretary
Dr. Edilberto de Jesus delivering a welcoming message.

Dean Sedfrey Candelaria introducing his second public lecture

A slide presentation on the areas in Mindanao covered by the topic

Ateneo Law students and Dean Sedfrey Candelaria

A law student asking further questions during the open forum

Dean Sedfrey Candelaria awarded by Chief Justice Artemio V. Panganiban and
wife Elenita C. Panganiban, together with Dr. Edilberto de Jesus
and Mr. Nicanor Torres (Executive Director, Metrobank Foundation)