RP to withdraw from UN pact on death penalty?

The Philippines might withdraw as signatory of the United Nations Second Optional Protocol in the event the 1987 Constitution is amended to reimpose the death penalty law.

Ranking officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the Philippines presented a very good image before the UN when it signed the protocol that prohibits state signatories from reintroducing the death penalty.

Officials, however, pointed out the possibility of amending the Constitution which might succeed and reintroduce capital punishment.

They said the change of the Constitution would entirely defeat the purpose of signing the Protocol.

Officials said the signing of the protocol is a "significant advance in Philippines’ human rights practice and it is a benchmark of international law."

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo signed the Second Optional Protocol in behalf of the Philippine government at the UN headquarters in New York last week.

Romulo said the Philippines binds itself before the world against imposing capital punishment.

He said President Arroyo has always upheld the sanctity of human life by imposing a moratorium on executions.

The repeal of the death penalty law and the signing of the Protocol also came as a fulfillment of the Philippines’ pledge as founding member of the newly established UN Human Rights Counsel based in Geneva. The Philippines has a seat in the Counsel until 2007.

The Protocol makes it mandatory for the signatory country to move against reimposing the capital punishment.

DFA officials earlier expressed the signing of the Protocol does not need the concurrence of the Senate but a presidential ratification. — Pia Lee-Brago