President Arroyo signs death penalty law

With one signature the death penalty was formally abolished in the Philippines and more than 1,000 people spared execution.

President Arroyo signed into law Republic Act 9346 abolishing the death penalty at a ceremony at the Malacañang presidential palace on 24 June 2006. The act commutes all death sentences to life imprisonment without parole.

The President signed the law one day before she was due to fly to the Vatican to meet the Pope.

Her signature formally ratified the bills passed by both houses of the Philippines Congress on 6 June.

At the signing ceremony she said that in gathering together to abolish the death penalty, "we celebrate life in the most meaningful way".

She said she appreciated the "enthusiasm of Congress" and thanked the church for providing a "beacon of grace and discernment".

"When I meet the Holy Father soon in the Vatican, I shall tell him that we have acted in the name of life for a world of peace and harmony," she said.

The President acknowledged concerns that abolishing the death penalty would lead to an increase in serious crime in the Philippines, and she committed her government to efforts to prevent and control crime.

"I allay the concerns of those who think that the abolition of the death penalty opens the floodgates to heinous acts... We shall continue to devote the increasing weight of our resources to the prevention and control of serious crimes, rather than take the lives of those who commit them," she said.

A report from the palace said Archbishop Fernando Filoni, Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, welcomed the move saying "this (abolition) shows that the culture of life is alive and important".

The report said the ceremony was witnessed by "the principal authors of the bill" Reps. Edcel Lagman, Salacnib Baterina and Rene Velarde, from the House of Representatives, and Senators Francis Pangilinan and Juan Flavier from the Senate.

Members of a number of non-government organisations which had lobbied Congress for the abolition of the death penalty were also present. They included Couples for Christ, the National Interfaith Convention Committee, the Coalition Against the Death Penalty, Samahang Pamilya sa Death Row, the Free Legal Assistance Group and Isaiah Prison Ministry.

The President's speech

The President's full speech on the occasion is reproduced below.

PGMA's Speech during the signing into law of the House Bill Abolishing the Death Penalty or Republic Act 9346 or An Act Prohibiting the Imposition of Death Penalty in the Philippines
Saturday, June 24, 2006
Rizal Hall, Malacañang

"Thank you, Secretary Ermita.

"Today in signing the abolition of the death penalty, we celebrate life in the most meaningful way by gathering our institutions together to repeal the death penalty.

"I appreciate the enthusiasm of Congress in expressing the moral and spiritual force of the Filipino in this law.

"I thank the church for the beacon of grace and discernment. When I meet the Holy Father soon in the Vatican, I shall tell him that we have acted in the name of life for a world of peace and harmony.

"I allay the concerns of those who think that the abolition of the death penalty opens the floodgates to heinous acts. We shall devote... We shall continue to devote the increasing weight of our resources to the prevention and control of serious crimes, rather than take the lives of those who commit them.

"I call on the entire criminal justice system -- law enforcers, prosecutors, judges, jailers and the whole community -- to take stock of the responsibility of sharpening law and justice for all.

"On the bombing in Maguindanao targeted at the governor and which killed five people, I condemn this act of terrorism in the strongest terms as a crime against peace and humanity. The authorities must identify the perpetrators, launch a manhunt with the proper rewards, and bring them to justice.

"I extend my sympathies to the families of the victims and assure them that the search for justice will be firm and relentless. We will never be intimidated by these treacherous acts and we shall fight terror as seriously as we embrace peace and development, solidarity among our law-abiding citizens, and our strategic alliances. This commitment stands firm and will not relent until the total defeat of terrorists in every part of the country.

"The rule of law, strictly enforced, shall ride side by side with social justice in paving the way for an atmosphere of political and economic security, so that every person and family shall have the blessings of stable employment, better health, education and public safety.

"We have taken a strong hand against the threats to the law and the republic, but at the same time we yield to the high moral imperatives dictated by God to walk away from capital punishment."

/Ends.