Video: 

■ Those who abolished death penalty cannot 

● 13 senators in favor of the death penalty  reinstate death penalty 
● 4 senators are gonna pass different death penalty  ○ Right to Life 
● What crimes should be covered by the death penalty? (Lacson,  ■ Non-derogable 
Go, de la Rosa, Pacquiao)  ■ Supreme right 
○ Pacquiao - Plunder and Drug Trafficking  ■ Even in times of conflict and other public 
○ Sotto - Drug Trafficking  emergencies which threatens the life of the 
● From late 1990s - 2002, crimes increased by 8.8%.   nation 
● Factors: Socioeconomic conditions and poverty  ■ Death penalty cannot be reconciled with the full 
● Rule of Law - it’s not the severity of punishment, but the  respect to such right. It imposes an obligation to 
predictability of the application of law.   the State to ensure the right to life to adopt laws 
● More than 6/10 people in the death row were poor and had no  or measures in order to protect life from any 
capacity to get proper legal assistance.  foreseeable threats. 
● Almost 72% of the people na binigyan ng death penalty ay  ○ Arbitrary Deprivation of Life 
erroneous  ■ Limits the ability of the State to apply the death 
● Room for error is huge. One innocent life is one too many.  penalty 
  ■ Can only apply in an a non-arbitrary manner with 
Senator Sotto presented a list of priorities about the focus of Congress. The  regard to the most serious crimes and subject to 
third on the list was the Death Penalty. Duterte wanted Congress to bring  a number of a strict conditions and safe guards 
by Death Penalty.   
  ■ In countries which have not abolished the death 
Only 8 out of 24 supports the revival of Death Penalty  penalty, sentence of death may be imposed only 
  for the most serious crimes in accordance with 
● Estrada  the law in force at the time of the commission of 
● 10 people on death row  the crime and not contrary to the provisions of 
● Echegaray  the present Covenant and to the Convention on 
○ Raped step daughter  the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of 
○ Arroyo implemented RA 9346 prohibiting Death Penalty  Genocide. This penalty can only be carried out 
○ 1200 on death row  pursuant to a final judgement rendered by a 
● Duterte impose on heinous crimes including illegal drug offenses  competent court.  
● HR standards  ■ Echagaray  
○ ICCPR  ● The  death  penalty  per  se  is  not  a  cruel, 
■ Death penalty is allowable limitation to the right  degrading  or  inhuman  punishment.  In 
to life but only for the most serious of crimes.  the  oft-cited case of Harden vs. Director 
■ No absolute prohibition  of  Prisons,  this  Court  held  that 
○ Second Optional Protocol  "[p]unishments  are  cruel  when  they 
 involve  torture  or  a  lingering  death;  but  ■ Right to Fair Trial 
the  punishment  of  death  is  not  cruel,  ■ Right family life and family unity 
within  the  meaning of that word as used  ■ Mnority rights 
in  the  constitution.  It  implies  there  ● What does the term derogation mean? 
something  inhuman  and  barbarous,  ○ You  go  against  a  rule  or  you  find  exception  to  the 
something  more  than  the  mere  application of the rule. 
extinguishment of life"   ● Are there non-derogable rules under the ICCPR? 
● Any infliiction of pain in lethal injection is  ○ Yes,  Right  to  Life,  Right  against  torture,  degrading  and 
merely  in  carrying  out  the  execution  of  inhumane  punishment,  Right  against  slavery  and 
the  death  penalty  and  does  not  fall  involuntary servitude 
within  the  constitutional  prescription  ○ There  are  rules  that  permit  derogation,  but  that  does  not 
against  cruel,  degrading  or  inhuman  mean  the  member-states  cannot  abide  by  those  rules. 
punishment.  "In  a  limited  sense,  Because  the  ICCPR  requires  the  minimum  standards, 
anything  is  cruel  which  is  calculated  to  these  rules  or  principles  can  be  implemented  by  the 
give  pain  or  distress,  and  since  States in accordance with their domestic set-up. 
punishment  imports  pain  of  suffering  to  ● What is a treaty? 
the  convict,  it  may  be  said  that  all  ○ A binding obligation between two or more states.  
punishments  are  cruel.  But  of  course  ● The  ICCPR  is  a  treaty.  It  carries  with  it  if  you  ratify  or  accede to it 
the  Constitution  does  not  mean  that  carries the obligation to abide by all the articles contained therein. 
crime,  for  this  reason,  is  to  go  ● Under  Art.  4,  there  are  situations  where  the  state  party  can 
unpunished."  The  cruelty  against  which  derogate  from  their  obligations  under  the  ICCPR.  What  are  those 
the  Constitution  protects  a  convicted  situations? 
man  is  cruelty  inherent  in the method of  ○ The  time  of  public  emergency  which  treatens  the  life  of 
punishment,  not  the necessary suffering  the  nation  and  the  existence  of  which  is  officially 
involved  in  any  method  employed  to  proclaimed,  the  State  Parties  to  present  Covenant  may 
extinguish life humanely.  take  measures  derogating  from  the  obligation  under  the 
● International Bill of Human Rights  present  Convenant  to  the  extent  strictly  required  by  the 
○ Consists of ICCPR, ICESCR, and the UDHR  exigencies  of  the  situation,  provided  that  such  measures 
○ Examples of Civil and Political Rights:  are  not  inconsistent  with  their  other  obligatoions  under 
■ Right to self-determination  international  law  and  do  not  involve  discrimination  solely 
■ Freedom of Speech  on  the  ground  of  race,  colour,  sex,  language,  religion  or 
■ Right to be protected from torture  social origin. 
■ Right to life and human dignity  ● Right to Life 
■ Equality before the law  ○ Non-derogable 
■ Religious freedom  ○ Inherent  in  the human being - it’s something that attaches 
■ Gender Equality  to the person by the mere fact that he was born. 
○ No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life  ● State  parties  must  also  ensure  the right 
○ In  all  circumstances,  are  state  parties  prohibited  from  to  life  and  exercise  due  diligence  to 
taking someone’s life? Is it an absolute rule?  protect  the  lives  of  individuals  against 
■ No,  the  ICCPR  recognizes  that  there  are  deprivations  caused  by  persons  or 
countries  which  have  not  abolished  the  death  entities,  whose  conduct  is  not 
penalty,  sentence  of  death may be imposed only  attributable to the State. 
for  ​the  most  serious  crimes,  in  accordance  ● The  obligation  of  States  parties  to 
with  the  law  in  force  at  the  time  of  the  respect  and  ensure  the  right  to  life 
commission  of  the  crime  and  not  contrary  to  extends  to  reasonably  foreseeable 
the  provisions  of the present Covenant and to  threats  and  life-threatening  situations 
the  Convention  on  the  Prevention  and  that can result in loss of life. 
Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.  ■ It’s  not  a  violation  if  states  participate  in  war  if 
■ What is absolutely prohibited?  it’s in an act of self-defense.  
● Arbitrary deprivation of life  ■ What  the  ICCPR  prohibits  are  crimes  of 
● It’s  arbitrary  if  it’s  inconsistent  with  aggression.  
international law or domestic law  ■ Obligation  to  prevent  war and protecting citizens 
● Exists  in  the  Bill  of  Rights  under  the  from deprivation of life 
1987 Constitution   ■ Positive  obligation:  Obligation  of  States  to 
● Killing  or  taking  of  property without due  respect  and  to  ensure the right to life, extends to 
process of law.  reasonable  foreseeable  threats  and 
■ Is  there  a  difference between a killing that’s state  life-threatening  situations  that  can  result  in  loss 
sponsored  vs.  a  private  person  killing  another  of life.  
person?  ● States  may  adopt  measures  designed 
● If  private  v.  private, ordinary crimes and  to  regulate  voluntary  termination  of 
punishable under the RPC  pregnancy,  ​such  measures  must  not 
● If  state-sponsored  killing  and  such  result  in  violation of the right to life of 
killing  was  not  attended  by  proper  a  pregnant woman or girl or her other 
safeguards  of  the  due  process  of  law,  rights under the Covenant.  
that’s a human rights violation.  ● The  restrictions  on  the  ability  of women 
■ What  does  general  comment  no.  36  say  about  or  girls  to  seek  abortion  must  not, 
how  states  should  protect  and  uphold  the  right  jeopardize  their  lies,  subject  them  to 
to life?  physical  or  mental  pain  or  suffering, 
● States  must  respect  the  right to life and  discriminate  against  them  or  arbitrarily 
have  the  duty  to  refrain  from  engaging  interfere with privacy. 
in  conduct  resulting  in  arbitrary  ● States  must  provide  safe,  legal  and 
deprivation of life.  effective  access  to  abortion  where  the 
 life  and  health  of  the  pregnant  woman  signed  on  to  the  covenant  do  not  necessarily  have  to  sign  on  the 
or  girl  is  at  effective  access  to  abortion  protocol.  
where  the  life  and  health  of  the  ● Optional  Protocols  always  relate  to  the  content  of  the  treaty  to 
pregnant  woman  or  girl  is  at  risk,  or  which it is attached. 
where  carrying  a  pregnancy  to  term  ● Key features of the Second Optional Protocol: 
would  cause  the  pregnant  woman  ● When was the abolition of death penalty made mandatory? 
substantial pain or suffering.  ○ Nothing  in  the  ICCPR  required  state  parties  to  abolish 
■ The  interdependence  of  human  rights.  We  immediately the death penalty.  
started  out  just  talking  about  the right to life, but  ○ But  the  stricter  mandate  to  absolutely  abolish  the  death 
when  I  asked  her  about  how  the  right  to  life  is  penalty came in the Second Optional Protocol. 
preserved  by  the  government,  and  how  far does  ○ The  standards  for  death  penalty  is  found  in  Art.  6  of  the 
the  obligation  of  the  government  extend?  She  ICCPR: 
started  mentioning  economic  and  social  rights.  ■ Only for the ​most serious crimes 
It’s  true,  you  can’t expect people to keep living if  ■ In  accordance  with  the  law  in  force  at  the 
they  don’t  have  anything  to  eat,  or  access  to  time of the commission of crime​ and  
health care, etc.   ■ Not  contrary  to  the  provisions  of  the  present 
■ To  remind  the  international  community,  that  Covenant  and  the  Convention  on  the 
when  we  talk  about  the  right  to  life,  it’s  not  Prevention  and  Punishment  of  the  Crime  of 
just  about the prevention of killings or deaths.  Genocide. 
When  we  talk  about  fulfilling  human  rights  ■ This  penalty  can  only  be  carried  out  pursuant  to 
obligations  and  when  we  talk  about  positive  a final judgment rendered by a competent court. 
obligations,  it  talks  about  so  many  things  the  ● Who  determines  the  imposition  of  death  penalty  of  a  particular 
government  can  do  such  as  setting  up  crime? 
hospitals,  setting  up  a  healthcare  system,  ○ Congress determines. 
providing  economic  incentives  to  ● What  else are the duties of Congress in relation to the imposition of 
corporations  to  remain  afloat  while  we’re  the death penalty under the ICCPR?  
suffering  through  a  pandemic,  tax  breaks.  All  ○ Legislate  that  the  process  and  the  way  of  imposing  the 
of  these  things  form  part  of  a  really  big  death  penalty  should  not  be  violent  or  torturious and that 
system  which  allows  government  to  fulfill  its  it should be still humane. 
obligations to preserve the right to life  ● Any  other  rights  for  somebody  who  might  be  convicted of a crime 
punishable by death penalty? 
Second Optional Protocol  ○ All  modes  of  appeal  should  be  made  available  to  the 
person 
● ICCPR  is  a  treaty.  The  Optional  Protocol  is  a  separate  treaty.  It  ○ Right  to  seek  pardon  or  commutation  of  the  sentence, 
requires  a  separate  process  of  ratification  and  countries  who  amnesty,  or  commutation  of  the  sentence  of  death  may 
be granted in all cases 
Any  other  situations  provided  by  the  ICCPR  or  our  local  laws  where  the  In  the  international  community,  they  look  at decisions by the Human Rights 
implementation of the death penalty can be suspended?  Committee  as  well  as  concluding  recommendations  in  Universal  Periodic 
Reviews  to  determine  what  can  be  considered  most  serious  crimes.  Most 
● Cannot be imposed to minors (those below 18 years of age)  serious  crimes  at  that  time  do not include property offenses, do not include 
● Cannot  be  imposed  to  those  above  70  years  old  (automatic  crimes  again  persons,  does  not  apply  in  financial  crimes,  narcotics  or 
commutation  of  sentence  depending  what  kind  of  offense  or  pornography.  
special crime was committed) 
● Cannot be imposed on pregnant women (suspension)  Is the Philippines a signatory to the Second Optional Protocol?  

Where  do  you  find  what  a  definition  of  heinous  crime  is  under  Philippine  Yes, in 2007, the Philippines signed the Second Optional Protocol. 
law? 
How  does  that  affect  the  ability  of  our  government  to  decide  whether  they 
● Heinous  crime  is  not defined in the Constitution, but it is defined in  should reinstate the death penalty or not? 
the R.A.  
As a signatory, the Philippines must comply with the Optional Protocol.  
Does our Constitution prohibit death penalty? 
Does optional protocol 2 have an opt out provision?  
● No, but it’s currently suspended. 
● Death  penalty  is  not  cruel,  but  what  is  not  allowed  is acts that are  No.  
degrading or inhumane.  
SORREN CASE: 
What  does  the  government  have  to  comply  with  for it to reinstate the death 
penalty to be in accordance with what the Constitutioni says?  UK  didn’t  have  death  penalty.  The  Jurisdiction  that  wanted  to  extradite 
them had the death penalty. Both were found guilty,  
● Define heinous crime 
● Punishment must not cruel or inhumane  Death  Row  phenomenon  -  The  anxiety  or  pain  of  waiting  is  excruciating. 
The  length  of  time  from  the  time  of  trial  all  the  way  to  conviction.  It  would 
When  the  framers  of  the  Constitution  decided  that  there  should  be  on  take time.  
moratorium. What happened to those on death row?  
What will the court look into?  
● Their sentences were commuted. 
Personal  circumstances  of  the  convict,  the  manner  by  which  the  death 
The  ICCPR  talks  about  the  death  penalty  only being applicable to the most  penalty is imposed,  
serious crime. To help us define, we normally look at decided cases.