On 15-16 November 2021, CIL Research Associate Maria Pia Benosa took part in the celebrations for the 82^nd Founding Anniversary of the Philippine Department of National Defense, themed “DND@82: Kapayapaan at Kaunlaran: Pamanang Hatid sa Sambayanan” (Peace and Progress: A Legacy for the Nation), which included a special webinar on the National Defense Act of 1935.

Ms. Benosa’s lecture on “Comparative Legal Frameworks in National Defense and Security”, was the final presentation in a series of discussions tracing the history of the Commonwealth-era National Defense Act to the present-day concept of “war” and “national defense”.

The presentation examined the legal framework for the use of force under the UN Charter, evolving notions on the threshold of an “armed attack” under international law, including in the maritime context, and possible areas of improvement in the Philippine defense framework drawing from contemporary state practice.

The webinar also featured as resource speakers Prof. Ricardo Trota-Jose (University of the Philippines), Prof. John Schaus (Center for Strategic and International Studies) and Mr. Neil Simon Silva (University of the Philippines).