Press Statement of the Chairperson on the Affirmation of the Right to Life Commission on HumanRights of the Philippines Reports of efforts to resurrect the imposition of the death penalty in the country in the light of the recent spate of killings and appalling criminalacts resulting in deathsofseveral persons(i.e. the Cabuyao and Calamba, Laguna massacres) have constrained the Commission on HumanRights to re-affirm its commitment to the righttolife. The passage of Republic Act 9346entitled, “An Act Prohibiting the Imposition of Death Penalty in the Philippines” in 2006 saw the Philippines’ recognition of the supremacyof theright to life. This was after more than a decadeofstruggle of the human rights community against Republic Act No. 7659 otherwise known as the “Death Penalty Law”enacted in 1993. The Commission on HumanRights has consistently been unwavering in the affirmation of the right to life. In our advocacy against the death penalty law, the Commission is not against serving justice to the victim. The Commission is in agreement that perpetrators must be punished. Since the enactment of the Death Penalty Law in 1993, 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 a deterrent is certainty and not severity of punishment to which the death penalty carries no room for humanerror, no roomforrestoration. The effect of death penalty is irreversible. The Universal Declaration on Human Rights reflects the consensus of the communityofnationsthatis abolitionist in outlook. It categorically states that, “Everyonehasthe righttolife, liberty and security ofpersons." Consequently, Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which the Philippineshas ratified on February 28, 1986,affirms that, “Every human being hasthe inherentrightto life. This right shall be protected by law. No oneshall be arbitrarily deprivedofhis life.”2 Therightto life is the supremeright from which no derogation is permitted even in time of public emergency which threatens thelife of the nation.3 More importantly, through the recent accession by the Philippines of the Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR,the country has not only affirmed but has bounditself to abolish, in perpetuity, the death penalty and uphold therighttolife. The Second Optional Protocolstates that, “1. No one within the jurisdiction of a State Party to the present Protocolshall be executed. 2. Each State Party shall take all necessary measures to abolish the death penalty withinitsjurisdiction." * Article 3, UDHR ? Article 6, paragraph 1, ICCPR * General CommentNo. 6, paragraph 1, ICCPR 53