The Philippines ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) on 23 October 1986. Ratification of the ICCPR reinforced the commitment of the Philippines to promote and protect civil and political rights, including the right to life enshrined in Article 6 of the Covenant. In 2006, the Philippines signed the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Second Optional Protocol). On 20 November 2007, the Philippines ratified the Second Optional Protocol. The Second Optional Protocol prohibits, absolutely and permanently, the imposition of the death penalty in the Philippines.10 Notwithstanding these binding legal commitments, House Bill No. 4727, is now before the House of Representatives, following approval by the House Justice Committee on 7 December 2016. Amendments to the Bill were the subject of vote in March 2017. In the Senate, Senate Bill Nos. 4, 42, 185, 186, 187, 889, 985, and 1294 are under the consideration of the Committee on Justice and Human Rights. Further consideration of the Senate Bills are suspended as of writing pending consideration by officials of the effect of relevant international agreements ratified by the Philippines and other international obligations. II. International Law, the Philippines, and the Death Penalty The Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR The Philippines ratified the ICCPR in 1986. The ICCPR contains detailed provisions on the right to life, and places serious restrictions upon the application of the death penalty to any person within the jurisdiction of the State. These restrictions are considered below. More significantly, the Philippines is also, unambiguously and without room for argument, a State Party to the Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR. The Second Optional Protocol is a significant international agreement. At the date of this Opinion, it has been ratified by 84 States and 2 other States have signed it. It provides for the complete, and permanent, abolition of the death penalty for all crimes within the jurisdiction of the state party.11 The act of abolition required by the Second Optional Protocol is absolute. Once ratified by a State, the obligations of the Second Optional Protocol are incapable of being retracted or altered by the State at any time in the future. 10 11 ICCPR-OP2, art. 1. ICCPR-OP2, art. 1. Page 4 of 23