Issues and Perspectives on the Death Penalty in The Philippines: a briefing paper prepared by the Commission on Human Rights of The Philippines

The death penalty is a highly contentious issue among Philippine policymakers and the public. The Philippines is the first country to abolish the death penalty in Asia, through the 1987 Philippine Constitution and later through Republic Act No. 9346 in 2006. Yet, debates on whether capital punishment be reinstated persists, particularly in times when there is perceived worsening of crime situation. In recent years, calls for its revival has been linked to fears and anxieties over the perceived proliferation of illicit drugs and its social impacts. This has led to various legislative proposals to restore the death sentence in the criminal justice system.