Hotline Asia is happy to announce the abolishment of death penalty in the Philippines.

On 6 June 2006, both the Philippine Senate and the House of Representatives voted to repeal Republic Act 7659 (the Death Penalty Law). The Philippine Congress showed its commitment to human rights by the passage of legislation abolishing the death penalty on the following day. Decree was signed into law by President Mrs. Arroyo on 25 June 2006.

In 1987, the Philippines took an innovative step as the first Asian country to abolish the death penalty. The death penalty was restored in December 1993 and the first execution was carried out in 1999. Hotline Asia issued UA990215(3) in 1999 to urge the authorities to review the Death Penalty Law and immediately take steps towards its abolishment.

Source: Amnesty International; AsiaNews