Abolition of death penalty pushed in ASEAN countries dialogue

MANILA – Former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo facilitated a trilateral dialogue involving the Philippines, Timor-Leste and Cambodia at the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Manila on Friday.

DOJ Undersecretary Raul Vasquez said the meeting focused on encouraging other Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members to support the abolition of the death penalty.

The Philippines, Timor-Leste and Cambodia have abolished the death penalty. “We discussed how to champion abolition strategy to convince other ASEAN countries to follow anti-death penalty laws and if possible in their constitution," Vasquez said.

"We agreed to initiate efforts, an information campaign, person to person, as well as meeting with like-minded groups and individuals," he added.

The Philippines is among 170 countries that are signatories to the 1976 International Convention on Civil and Political Rights.

The second optional protocol of that agreement aims to abolish the death penalty, Vasquez said.

Arroyo, during her term as president, signed in 2006 Republic Act (RA) 9346, An Act Prohibiting the Imposition of Death Penalty in the Philippines, in 2006.

It repealed RA 7659 (Death Penalty law) and RA 8177 (Lethal Injection Act), along with other conflicting laws, decrees, or executive orders.

For crimes that previously carried the death penalty, the punishment was replaced with reclusion perpetua (maximum sentence of 40 years) if the violation falls under the Revised Penal Code and life imprisonment if the violation falls under special penal laws.

Persons convicted of offenses punishable by reclusion perpetua, or whose sentences are reduced to reclusion perpetua, are not eligible for parole under RA 4103 or the Indeterminate Sentence law.

Vasquez said pushing for the abolition of capital punishment across ASEAN members is a major challenge because of differing political systems, legal traditions, and cultures. (PNA)