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Gloria Arroyo on the death penalty: A timeline


January 25, 1993 - During the second reading of Senate Bill No. 891 (death penalty bill), then Senator Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo voted no. December 2, 1993 - During the bicameral hearing on the proposed death penalty law, Arroyo again abstained. She also abstained during the third and final reading of Senate Bill No. 891. January 23, 2001 - In an interview with GMA-7, Arroyo said she is personally against death penalty, but since it is a law she plans to implement it. March 6, 2001 - Arroyo commuted sentences of two inmates from death to life imprisonment: Rodrigo Calma, convicted child rapist, and murderer Edgar Maligaya, who were scheduled to be executed on March 7. She also declared that "There is no suspension of the death penalty." April 3, 2001 - Executive Secretary Renato S. de Villa said President Arroyo has effectively suspended the state's execution of death penalty convicts for the duration of her three-year term. He said there are no executions because Arroyo automatically commutes the death sentences of all cases which are already going to be carried out or before they are carried out. October 15, 2001 - In a meeting with Filipino-Chinese businessmen, Arroyo vowed to order the execution of up to 95 convicted kidnappers after the Supreme Court reviews their cases. She said the government needs to "strike fear" into the hearts of criminals. March 13, 2002 - Arroyo said that if the Congress would pass a bill to repeal the death penalty law, she will sign it. August 1, 2002 - After the anniversary celebration of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, Arroyo went to the Pasay City Hall to congratulate Judge Eleuterio Guerrero, who earlier sentenced kidnappers to death. August 28, 2002 - In deference to the birthday of Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin, Arroyo granted a reprieve to three convicted rapists and reset their execution to a later date. Rolando Pagdayawon y Salabaria, who was scheduled for execution on August 30, 2002, was granted a reprieve until November 28, 2002. Eddie Sernadilla y Ventires's execution, scheduled on September 3, 2002, was reset to December 2, 2002. Filomeno Serrano y Callado's execution was moved from September 20 to December 19, 2002. October 1, 2002 - Arroyo confirmed the earlier announcement of Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople that the execution of death convicts would be suspended to allow Congress to finish its review of pending resolutions asking for the abolition of death penalty. July 28, 2003 - In her state of the nation address, Arroyo declared that there will be no moratorium on the death penalty for all drug lords: "Para sa mga big fish sa iligal na droga, mahirap na ang mag-moratorium sa death penalty." September 28, 2003 - In an interview with Vatican Television in Vatican, Arroyo said the suspension of the death penalty will stay, and will continue other pro-life policies. She made the announcement after meeting with Pope John Paul II. November 24, 2003 - Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio Bunye said that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo favors the lifting of the ban on the imposition of the death penalty for convicted kidnappers and drug lords. On the same day (November 24, 2003), Arroyo issued this statement: "I will continue to consult with Congressional leaders and concerned sectors of our society, including the Church, on this matter. I am resolved to take all means to deter the commission of heinous crimes and strengthen criminal justice. "But I must emphasize that the death penalty is not the end-all to heinous crime. The entire criminal justice system involving the police, the prosecution, the courts, the correctional system and the community must be able to team up to prevent, deter and solve heinous crimes." November 25, 2003 - Shortly after the murder of Coca-Cola executive Betti Sy, Arroyo said executions did not stop heinous crimes: "We have had executions in the past and these have provided a steam valve to vent the public’s ire against hardened criminals. But these executions did not stop heinous crimes. Executions may give us some form of emotional release and a transient sense of retribution and security but the more effective solutions lie in fielding the entire criminal justice system against criminals, so that we can effectively curb kidnapping, robbery, murder or rape. I would rather have a strong institutional approach rather than play to the gallery and the media on this issue." December 5, 2003 - Yielding to the clamor of the Chinese-Filipino community, Arroyo lifted the moratorium on death penalty, saying she must yield to the higher public interest. January 8, 2004 - In a radio interview, Arroyo explained her general policy on the death penalty in the light of objections to the restoration of executions via the lethal injection chamber:"Ikinalulungkot ko po na kailangang gawin ito. Talagang ako ay pro-life, pero mayroong mga bagay, mayroong mga circumstance o situation na talaga namang dapat gawin upang mapigilan ito." January 28, 2004 - After the Supreme Court suspended the execution of Roderick Licayan and Roberto Lara, Arroyo said she was relieved by the decision, but said she "has always been prepared to enforce the law despite[her] personal beliefs about the death penalty." On February 19, the Supreme Court ordered the reopening of their cases. April 19, 2004 - In a letter to Leonida Vera, then newly appointed Philippine ambassador to Vatican, Pope John Paul II asked the Philippines not to implement death penalty. June 9, 2004 - Arroyo gave 30-day reprieve to six convicted rapists: 1. Danilo Romulo (original date of execution: March 23, 2004 moved to June 21, 2004). 2. Fidel Alborida (original date of execution: March 26, 2004 moved to June 24, 2004). 3. Filomeno Serrano (original date of execution: March 13, 2004 moved to June 11, 2004). 4. Hilgem Nerio (original date of execution: March 14, 2004 moved to June 12, 2004). 5. Jonel Manio (original date of execution: March 19, 2004 moved to June 17, 2004). 6. Salvador Miranda (original date of execution: March 31, 2004 moved to June 20, 2004). August 6, 2004 - Arroyo granted 90-day reprieve to 17 convicts. February 24, 2005 - Arroyo granted a 90-day reprieve to 14 death row convicts. February 21, 2006 - Arroyo said that she would back moves in Congress for the repeal of the death penalty law. April 15, 2006 - In her Easter message, Arroyo announced the commutation to life imprisonment of death row convicts. June 24, 2006 - Arroyo signed Republic Act No. 9346 or "An Act Prohibiting the Imposition of Death Penalty in the Philippines," which repealed Republic Act 7659 or the Death Penalty Law. Sources: Senate, GMA News, Philippine Headline News Online, PIA, BBC, OPS

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