Philippine and int'l law on the death penalty

President Duterte revived interest in the death penalty when he included among his proposals in his State of the Nation Address that it be reinstated as penalty for drug-related crimes.

In the House of Representatives, Congressmen Robert Ace Barbers of Bayan Muna and Ruffy Biazon of Muntinlupa, who had authored a bill reviving the death penalty in the previous Congress, were quick to welcome the President’s proposal, while Congressmen Lito Atienza of Buhay and Carlos Zarate of Bayan Muna opposed it on the ground that death penalty has never served to deter crime.

In the Senate, Senate President Vicente Sotto III, who has a bill reviving the death penalty, said with the President’s support, it now has a chance to win approval. But Sen. Richard Gordon said his Committee on Justice is not keen on holding a hearing.