Philippines: Lifting of death penalty is Congress' call, says Palace

Rodrigo Duterte

Malacanang on Monday said that it was up to Congress to decide on the restoration of death penalty in the country.

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. made the remark after presumptive president Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte indicated his call for the restoration of the death penalty.

"Lifting of the death penalty requires that the present law be amended. It is best that this be tackled by the next Congress," Coloma said in a text message.

A report by Unang Balita said that Duterte wanted to revive the death penalty for heinous crimes including robbery with rape.

Since the start of his term, President Benigno Aquino III has maintained his opposition to death penalty.

In 2014, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said Aquino "has reservations" due to flaws in the judicial system.

"Concerned tayo doon sa judicial system, hence, he [Aquino] has reservations on death penalty. To the best of my knowledge, that position remains the same," Lacierda said then.

Although death penalty was abolished in the 1987 Constitution, it was reinstated through Republic Act 7659, which imposes capital punishment on certain heinous crimes, and RA 8177 provides for lethal injection as the means of carrying out the death penalty.

In 2006, then-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed Republic Act 9346 abolishing death penalty in the Philippines by repealing RA 7659.

Source: gmanetwork.com, May 16, 2016

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