UN warns PHL Congress: Restoring death penalty a violation of pact
The United Nations' top official for human rights has written an open letter to the leaders of Congress in the Philippines expressing concern over measures pending in the legislature to restore the death penalty.
In a letter dated December 6 addressed to both Senate President Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III and House of Representatives Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said that the Philippines "would violate its obligations under international human rights law if it reintroduced the death penalty."
Al Hussein noted that the Philippines, in 2007, ratified the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which guarantees that no one can be executed within the jurisdiction of the country.
"International law does not permit a State that has ratified or acceded to the Second Optional Protocol to denounce it or withdraw from it," he said, adding that a clause allowing countries to withdraw was "deliberately omitted" so that they would not be able to reintroduce capital punishment after ratifying the agreement.
On Wednesday, the House justice committee on Wednesday approved its report on a substitute bill seeking to reimpose the death penalty as punishment for heinous crimes.
Duterte has pushed for the reinstatement of capital punishment as part of his administration's war on drugs.
Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas said most of the lawmakers in the Duterte administration's "supermajority" in the House are in favor of the reimposition of death penalty.
Pimentel, however, was non-committal whether legislative proposals restoring the death penalty will pass at the Senate.
“Mahirap magsalita parati akong mali. When I make projections as to when a bill is to be approved, mali,” Pimentel said.
In his letter, Al Hussein acknowledged the Philippines' campaign against drugs, which has been the centerpiece of the Duterte administration. The return of capital punishment, however, is not the answer, he said.
"The most effective manner of addressing drug-related offences is through strengthening the rule of law, ensuring an effective justice system and reducing drug use by adopting a strong public health approach to prevention, harm reduction and other forms of health care and treatment in accordance with international standards," he said. —JST, GMA News
UN warns PHL Congress: Restoring death penalty a violation of pact
Published December 8, 2016 9:05pm
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