“Everyonehas the right to life, liberty and security of persons.”* Consequently, Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Right (ICCPR), which the Philippines hasratified on February 28, 1986,affirms that, “Every humanbeing has the inherent right to life. This right shall be protected by law. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life.”2 Theprotection against arbitrary deprivation oflife whichis explicitly required bythe third sentence of Article 6 (1) (of the ICCPR as mentioned above), is of paramount importance.4 The (United Nations Human Rights) Committee considers that States parties should take measures not only to prevent and punish deprivation of life by criminal acts, but also to prevent arbitrary killing by their own security forces. The deprivation of life by the authorities of the State is a matter of the utmost gravity.5 Both the UDHR and ICCPRareexplicit in saying that “everyone” and “every humanbeing”has the inherent right to life. They recognize the universality of the right and make no distinctions, whatsoever, as to its applicability. Old or young,rich or poor, learned orignorant, criminal or hero, victim or violator — the rights applies to all. The Commission on HumanRights has consistently been unwavering inits affirmation of the right to life. In our advocacy against the death penalty law, we maintain that we are not against serving justice to the victim. The Commissionis in full conformity that perpetrators must be punished. But the re-imposition of the death penalty is far from the solution which weall yearn for. Since the enactment of the Death Penalty Law in 1993, however, there has been no sufficient proof to show that the penalty of death has the effect of deterring crimes in the country. What has proven to be deterrent is certainty of punishment and not severity of punishment to which the death penalty carries no room for human error, no room for restoration. The death penalty is irrevocable. It sends innocent people to their deaths. It has no special powerto prevent crime. It is particularly cruel, calculated and a coldblooded form of killing, the ultimate inhuman and degrading punishment. It is imposedto punish prisoners fortheir political beliefs and wheninflicted for criminal offences it often becomesa judicial lottery.® Affirmation of the Right to Life Further, the UDHRand the ICCPRreflect the consensus of the community of nationsthatis abolitionist in outlook through the provisions cited above.” The (UN) Committee (on Human Rights) concludes that all measures of abolition should consideredas progress in the enjoymentof therightstolife.’ ? Article 3, UDHR * Article 10, paragraph 1, ICCPR ‘Tbid, paragraph 1, ICCPR * Ibid. ° Whenthe State Kills, The Death Penalty vs. HumanRights. www.prolife.org/page/death_penalty ’ Article 3 and Article 6, paragraph1, respectively 50