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Gloria Arroyo on death penalty: a timeline
January 25, 1993 - During the second reading of Senate Bill No. 891 (death penalty bill), Arroyo voted no. (Record of the Senate) |
December 2, 1993 - During the bicameral hearingon the proposed death penalty law, Arroyo again abstained. She also abstained during the third and final reading of Senate Bill No. 891. (Record of the Senate) |
January 23, 2001 - In an interview with GMA-7 Arroyo said she is personally against death penalty, but since it is a lawshe plans to implement it. (iNEWS, RichelleSy interview) Marso 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 alsodeclared that "There is no suspension of the death penalty." (PHNO) April 3, 2001 - Executive Secretary Renato S. de Villa said President Arroyohas effectively suspended the state's execution of death penalty convictsfor the duration of her three-year term. He said there are no executionsbecause the Arroyo automatically commutes the death sentences of all cases which are already going to be carried out or before they are carried out. (PIA, iNEWS) |
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 ofcriminals. (BBC, PIA) |
March 13, 2002 - Arroyo said that if the Congress would pass a bill to repeal the death penalty law, she will sign it. (iNEWS) |
August 1, 2002 - After the BIR anniversary,Arroyo went to the Pasay City Hall to congratulateJudge Eleuterio Guerrero, who earlier sentenced kidnappers to death.(iNEWS) |
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 Pagdayawony Salabaria, who was scheduled for execution on Aug. 30, 2002, wasgranted a reprieve until Nov. 28, 2002. Eddie Sernadilla y Ventires's execution, scheduled on Sept. 3, 2002, was reset to Dec. 2, 2002. Filomeno Serrano y Callado's execution was moved from Sept. 20 to December 19, 2002. (OPS) October 1, 2002 - Arroyo confirmed the earlier announcement of Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople that the execution of death convicts would besuspended to allow Congress to finish its review of pending resolutions askingfor the abolition of death penalty. (OPS) |
July 28, 2003 - In her State of the Nation Address, Arroyo declaredthat 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 inVatican, Arroyo said the suspension of the death penalty will stay, and willcontinue other pro-life policies. She made the announcement after meeting withPope John Paul II. (OPS) |
November 24, 2003 - Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio Bunye said that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo favors the liftingof the ban on the imposition of the death penalty for convicted kidnappersand drug lords. (OPS) "On the same day (November 24, 2003), Arroyo issued this statement: I will continue to consult with Congressional leaders and concerned sectorsof our society, including the Church, on this matter. I am resolved to takeall means to deter the commission of heinous crimes and strengthencriminal justice. |
November 25, 2003 - Shortly after the murder of Coca-Cola executive Betti Sy, PGMA says executions did not stopheinous crimes: "We have had executions in the past and these haveprovided 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 criminaljustice system against criminals, so that we can effectively curb kidnapping, robbery, murder or rape. I would rather have a strong institutionalapproach rather than play to the gallery and the media on this issue."(OPS) |
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. (OPS) |
January 8, 2004 - In a radio interview, Arroyo explained her her general policy on the death penalty in the light of objectionsto the restoration of executions via the lethal injection chamber:"Ikinalulungkot ko po na kailangang gawin ito. Talagang ako ay pro-life, pero mayroongmga bagay, mayroong mga circumstance o situation na talaga namang dapatgawin upang mapigilan ito." (OPS) |
January 28, 2004 - After the Supreme Court suspended the execution of Roderick Licayan and Roberto Lara, Arroyo said she was relieved by thedecision, but said she "has always been prepared to enforce the law despite[her] personal beliefs about the death penalty." On February 19, theSupreme Court ordered the reopening of their cases. (iNews) |
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. (iNEWS) |
June 9, 2004 - Arroyo gave 30-day reprieve to six convicted rapists: |
August 6, 2004 - Arroyo granted 90-day reprieveto 17 convicts. (iNews) |
February 24, 2005 - Arroyo granted a 90-dayreprieve to 14 death row convicts . (OPS) |
February 21, 2006 - Arroyo said that she wouldback moves in Congress for the repeal of the death penalty law. (INQ7) |
April 15, 2006 - In her Easter message, Arroyo announced the commutation to life imprisonment of death row convicts. (OPS) |
