The House of Representatives on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved the death penalty bill on third and final reading, but those who opposed the measure vowed to question it before the Supreme Court. Rep. Edcel Lagman of Albay vowed to challenge the death penalty bill before the Supreme Court. Lagman decried the unlawfulness and haste of approving the measure, maintaining that there was no compelling reason to restore the death penalty. Aside from violating the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Lagman said the death penalty violates the Constitution because the authors have failed to provide a compelling reason for the restoration of the death penalty. “What happened today is a day of revelation, and you saw who are those who stood their ground against the death penalty and those who succumbed to intimidation,” Lagman said.

Source: Manila Times March 07, 2017 16:37 UTC