National Survey on Public Perceptions on the Death Penalty (October 2018). The initial results of the 2018 National Survey on Public Perception on the Death Penalty, conducted by Social Weather Stations (SWS) for the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines, show that for six out of seven specific serious crimes related to illegal drugs, 33% or less demand the death penalty or 7 out of 10 did not choose the death penalty. thought processes and disentangle This is the first survey in the Philippines to explore layers of perceptions about the death penalty. We con ducted face-to-face interviews of 2,000 respondents aged 15 and above nationwide during the period March 22 to 27, 2018. The Commission draws your attention to General Comment issued by the Human Under paragraph 34, it clarifies that the State Party to Rights Committee. No. 36 adopted in November 2018, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights that have abolished the Death Penalty are barred from reintroducing it. The Committee also reiterate that the imposition of Death Penalty for drug offences is prohibited in all circumstances No. 36 was adopted on 30 October 2018: (paragraph 35, and The General Comment General Comment No. 36 on Article 6 — on Right to life https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/CCPR/Pages/GC36-Article6Righttolife.aspx). Not all victims want revenge, not all are for the death penalty. But we know that they are united in wanting those who committed crimes to be punished. Case in point is Ms. Cherie Pie Picache, in the program, Radical Love, it shows her journey to forgive the person responsible for killing her mother. In the words of Maria Clara Sarmenta, mother of Eileen, the victim of Mayor Sanchez, “At the spur of the moment | said | agreed to restoring the death penalty. But then when being a Christian | would rather have the life sentence because | thought it over, in death penalty, it's only one injection, tapos na (then it's done) ... In the life sentence, the prisoner would be given the chance to be reformed and also the mere fact that he suffers, he should be suffering for the crime he did.” (https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/02/19/eileen-sarmentas-mom-now-for-lifeimprisonment-over-death-penalty ) The Philippines, its legislators and government agencies tasked to curb crimes are enabled and capable to hold dangerous without the death penalty. offenders and perpetrators accountable and be safe from them The yearning to stop the current scourge of drug addiction and its links to criminality is understandable. But to fight crime with violent assertion and revenge as motivation will only perpetuate a culture of violence in the country. Instead, we should develop a credible justice system that works for all, a system that is incorruptible, with objectivity and impartiality. The CHR is ready to participate in further deliberations to oppose this measure, present evidence that death penalty does not deter crimes and propose punish most serious of crimes. Thank you very much. 76 effective alternatives to prevent and