Philippines Moves Closer to Reinstating Death Penalty
To become law, the death penalty bill must face a largely symbolic third reading in the House, which is controlled
by allies of the president, before going to the Senate, also controlled by people close to Mr. Duterte.
sals and moves to return the death penalty into the Philippine legal system." "We regret
that there are strident efforts to restore the death penalty," the letter said. that unequivocally oppose propo
He added, "This further erodes the already horrendous human rights situation in the Philippines." The International Drug Policy Consortium, a network of nongovernmental organizations
that focus on issues related to drug production, trafficking and use, had called on Congress to oppose the measure.
" he said. that It is definitely unacceptable to railroad the passage of the death penalty bill
because for burning issues such as this, congressional deliberations are not just for its members alone — they are also for the people,
The bill, which would primarily allow drug-related offenses to be punishable by death,
reflects President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign pledge to end crime and corruption.
By FELIPE VILLAMORMARCH 1, 2017
MANILA — The Philippine House of Representatives approved a proposal on Wednesday to reinstate the death
penalty, paving the way for capital punishment to be restored more than a decade after it was abolished.