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Monday, June 10, 2019, 2:18:54AM

In Defense of the Right to Life: International Law and Death Penalty in the Philippines

A study by the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines and Dr. Christopher Ward, SC, Australian Bar, Adjunct Professor, Australian National University

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CHR: ‘Death penalty inhuman, cruel, degrading, disadvantageous to poor’
Manila Bulletin | https://mb.com.ph/2022/11/01/chr-death-penalty-inhuman-crueldegrading-disadvantageous-to-poor/, November 01, 2022
Statement of CHR Commissioner Karen Gomez Dumpit on the Commemoration of the 15th Anniversary of the Abolition of the Death Penalty
Commission on Human Rights | https://chr.gov.ph/statement-of-chr-commissioner-karen-gomez-dumpit-on-the-commemoration-of-the-15th-anniversary-of-the-abolition-of-the-death-penalty/, June 24, 2021
Statement of Commissioner Karen Gomez-Dumpit on the United Nations General Assembly Resolution on Moratorium on the Use of the Death Penalty
Commission on Human Rights | http://chr.gov.ph/statement-of-commissioner-karen-gomez-dumpit-on-the-united-nations-general-assembly-resolution-on-moratorium-on-the-use-of-the-death-penalty/, December 17, 2020
Commissioner Karen Gomez-Dumpit delivered before the Committee on Justice House of Representatives
Commission on Human Rights | https://www.facebook.com/chrgovph/photos/a.784575471659000/2909617312488128/, September 24, 2020
Message of Comm. Karen S. Gomez-Dumpit delivered before the Committee on Justice, House of Representatives
Comm. Karen S. Gomez-Dumpit Message | https://www.facebook.com/chrgovph/photos/a.784575471659000/2912774812172378/, June 25, 2020
Statement of Commissioner Karen S. Gomez Dumpit on the 17th World Day against Death Penalty
Commission on Human Rights | http://chr.gov.ph/statement-of-commissioner-karen-s-gomez-dumpit-on-the-17th-world-day-against-death-penalty/, October 10, 2019
CHR OK Card: Locsin opposes death penalty, says it wont work
Commission on Human Rights | https://www.facebook.com/chrgovph/photos/a.784575471659000/2213319572117909/, July 24, 2019
Statement of CHR spokesperson, Atty. Jacqueline Ann de Guia, on remarks advocating the reintroduction of death penalty by rope
Commission on Human Rights | https://chr.gov.ph/statement-of-chr-spokesperson-atty-jacqueline-ann-de-guia-on-remarks-advocating-the-reintroduction-of-death-penalty-by-rope/, July 24, 2019
Statement of CHR spokesperson, Atty Jacqueline Ann de Guia, on proposals to restore death penalty in the country
Commission on Human Rights | http://chr.gov.ph/statement-of-chr-spokesperson-atty-jacqueline-ann-de-guia-on-proposals-to-restore-death-penalty-in-the-country/, June 28, 2019
Statement of CHR Commissioner Karen S. Gomez-Dumpit on the Possible Restoration of the Death Penalty
Commission on Human Rights | https://www.facebook.com/notes/commission-on-human-rights-of-the-philippines/statement-of-chr-commissioner-karen-gomez-dumpit-on-the-possible-restoration-of-/2101862306596, May 19, 2019
Statement of CHR Spokesperson, Atty Jacqueline Ann de Guia, on Senator Manny Pacquiao’s remarks supporting death penalty through the Bible (2018)
Commission on Human Rights Statement link | https://www.facebook.com/chrgovph/photos/a.892066110909935/1713839952065876/, August 09, 2018
CHR Reiterates Stance on Death Penalty at End Crime, Not Life Public Forum (2017)
Commission on Human Rights | https://www.facebook.com/chrgovph/photos/a.784575471659000/1341041602679048/, August 17, 2017
CHR Remains Firm Against the Reimposition of the Death Penalty
Commission on Human Rights, March 07, 2017
Commission on Human Rights on the Death Penalty (2017)
Commission on Human Rights | https://www.facebook.com/chrgovph/photos/a.784575471659000/1158481100935100/, February 07, 2017
Advisory on the Reimposition of the Death Penalty - CHR (V) A2016-002
Commission on Human Rights, November 07, 2016

, January 01, 1970

CHR Statements

CHR: ‘Death penalty inhuman, cruel, degrading, disadvantageous to poor’

November 01, 2022, Manila Bulletin

Commission on Human Rights (CHR)

“It is inhuman, cruel and degrading. It denies rehabilitation. It runs contrary to international standards and treaties.”

These were the arguments raised by Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Chairperson Richard Palpal-latoc against the moves to restore the imposition of death penalty in the Philippines.

Palpal-latoc said that those who are in favor of the death penalty defend it by saying that it is society's obligation to protect the safety and security of its citizens.

However, Palpal-latoc said that the capital punishment does not really offer the citizens any extra protection. In fact, he stressed that death penalty “does more harm than good.”

"We acknowledge the fact that there is no evidence that shows that death penalty is a deterrent on crime. Crimes persisted despite the possible imposition of severe penalty," he said.

"Death penalty does not improve crime rates and it also creates further problems in the disadvantaged, marginalized, and vulnerable sectors of society," he pointed out.

At the same time, Palpal-latoc lamented that those who face execution are mostly from the poor since they have no access to competent lawyers or a decent education that can empower them about their rights.

He cited that even the Supreme Court recognized in People vs Mateo that the error rate in imposing the death sentence is 71.77 percent. Thus, he said this only proves that the death penalty is disproportionately disadvantageous to the poor.

He also cited that when facts about the death penalty and its impact on society were presented, seven out of 10 Filipinos were against death penalty.

Death penalty was deleted in the country’s statute books by Republic Act No. 9346 which was signed into law by then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

RA 9346 repealed RA 8177, the Act Designating Death Penalty by Lethal Injection, and RA 7659, the Death Penalty Law.

Published reports stated that there are six pending bills in Congress seeking the restoration of death penalty. Of these bills, four are reportedly in the Senate while the two others are in the House of Representatives.

TAGS: #CHR #Death Penalty # Palpal-latoc #Congress on Death Penalty



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