Mt. Carmel’s Deleon Guerrero wins AG’s Speech Cup

Mount Carmel High School’s Lance Vincent Q. Deleon Guerrero gets a hug from his coach Galvin Deleon Guerrero, right, and father House vice speaker Joseph Deleon Guerrero (Ind-Saipan) after being declared the champion of the 32nd Attorney General’s Cup Speech Competition at the CNMI Supreme Court on Friday. Also in the photo is Attorney General Edward Manibusan. (Ferdie de la Torre)

Lance Vincent Q. Deleon Guerrero brought back the coveted title to the Mount Carmel High School campus after emerging as the best in the prestigious annual 32nd Attorney General’s Cup Speech Competition last Friday.

Deleon Guerrero, a senior at Mount Carmel, got the judges’ nod as champion among seven contestants in the speech competition held at the packed CNMI Supreme Court.

Mikhail T. Alcantara, a senior at Saipan Southern High School, grabbed second place, while Marianas High School junior, Ann Margaret Norcio, received third place honors. Rebekan Hyeyoon Kim of Northern Marianas Academy got honorable mention.

The other participants were Yu Jin Lee of Grace Christian Academy, Harim Kim of Marianas Baptist Academy, and Aliah M. Santos of Dr. Rita Hocog Inos Jr./Sr. High School.

This year’s topic was timely. The participants were asked the following: Should the CNMI permit individuals to carry handguns on their person in public? Why or why not?

Citing the attack by an intruder on Li-Rong Radich on Tinian, Deleon Guerrero’s position was in support of a person’s right to carry a concealed handgun on their person in public.

“Because Li-Rong Radich is more than just a victim of violence. She is someone’s daughter. She is someone’s wife. One day, she may be someone’s mother,” Deleon Guerrero said in his speech.

Deleon Guerrero said he knows that if someone ever attacked his mother, or his future wife, or his future daughter, he will do anything to keep them safe.

“Likewise, no matter where you stand in the debate about guns, there’s no debating that we must do everything we can to keep our families, to keep our friends, and to keep our community safe,” said Deleon Guerrero in concluding his speech.

In an interview, Deleon Guerrero said he did not expect to win because his plan was just to deliver a message.

Deleon Guerrero’s message in his speech is whether people are pro-gun or anti-gun, either way they want to keep their family safe.

“I honestly wish that there was no gun at all and I did state that,” he said as he thanked his coach Galvin Deleon Guerrero, his family, and friends at school for supporting him.

After the awarding, Deleon Guerrero had to rush to the airport because he is a member of Mount Carmel’s team that will represent the Commonwealth in the national high school mock trial tilt in Boise, Idaho from May 12 to 14.

He is also a member of the Theater Club. He plans to become either a counselor or a lawyer.

Deleon Guerrero’s parents are House vice speaker Joseph P. Deleon Guerrero (Ind-Saipan) and Mercedes Q. Deleon Guerrero.

Joseph Deleon Guerrero said his son’s victory came as a surprise to him.

The lawmaker said his son has been preparing the mock trial and the AG’s Cup at the same time.

“I thought it’s too much of a burden on him. I really didn’t expect him to perform well. I am very surprised that he was able to not only make it but win,” said Joseph Deleon Guerrero, who gave credit to the school’s coaching team.

Mt. Carmel coach Galvin Deleon Guerrero said he has been coaching this AG’s Cup for a very long time and that this year is the best batches that he has ever seen.

“So I am honored to win with such great, wonderful speeches, and fantastic speakers. I am very humbled,” Galvin Deleon Guerrero said.

Last year, Lee Ann Jastillana of Marianas High School was declared champion, snapping Mt. Carmel High School’s incredible 12th straight victories since 2002.

Deleon Guerrero’s victory was the 17th title for Mount Carmel in the annual competition that began in 1984.

This year’s panel of judges were Attorney General Edward E. Manibusan, Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro, deputy AG Lillian A. Tenorio, Tinian Mayor Joey P. San Nicolas, assistant attorney general Charles Brasington, AAG James M. Zarones, former AG Robert T. Torres, former AG Rexford C. Kosack, former AG Matthew T. Gregory, and former AG Gil Birnbrich.