Dear Friends,
We have been informed that the President of the Philippines, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has decided to reprieve for 90 days the execution of Mr. Rolando Pagdayawon, who was previously scheduled to be executed on 30 August, and two other men who were both to be executed in September.
We welcome the President’s decision and urge her to grant further reprieve to all other criminals under sentence of death, and support the move to abolish the death penalty in the Philippines.
Meanwhile, we are forwarding you the following appeal from Amnesty International (AI), regarding Rolando’s case. AI is requesting you to take further action against the death penalty. Please follow up their request.
If you want to see our previous forwarded appeal on this matter, please visit http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2002/292/
Thank you for your continuous action.
Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission
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PUBLIC AI Index: ASA 35/009/2002
28 August 2002
Further information on EXTRA 63/02 (ASA 35/007/2002, 14 August 2002) – Imminent execution
PHILIPPINES: Rolando Pagdayawon (m), former police officer
Rolando Pagdayawon, who was scheduled to be executed by lethal injection on 30 August, has been granted a 90-day reprieve by President Arroyo. He was sentenced to death for the rape of his common-law wife’s nine-year-old daughter.
According to the President’s Press Secretary, the reprieve will give the President more time to determine whether his death sentence should be commuted to a prison term. The reprieve also applies to two other men, Filemon Serrano (see follow-up to UA 236/02, ASA 35/006/2002, 2 August 2002) and Eddie Sernadilla, who were both due to be executed in September.
The Press Secretary said that President Arroyo’s decision to grant a reprieve was partly due to pressure from the Catholic Church in the Philippines which, along with human rights groups, has been pressing for abolition of the death penalty.
Moves in Congress towards abolition of the death penalty have been gathering pace in recent weeks. According to the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG), almost half of the members of the House of Representatives and a majority of Senators have signalled their intent to vote for the abolition of capital punishment. In May, the House of Representatives’ Committees on Revision of Laws and Civil, Political and Human Rights approved bills providing for abolition. The Senate is currently conducting public hearings on a similar bill. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has urged the President to certify the bills as urgent.
FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals in English or in your own language:
– welcoming the President’s decision to grant a 90-day reprieve to Rolando Pagdayawon and urging her to commute his death sentence to a prison term;
– expressing the hope she will grant clemency to all other prisoners facing imminent execution;
– expressing sympathy for the victims of rape and other violent crime but pointing out that the death penalty has never been shown to have a unique deterrent effect, and is brutalizing to all involved;
– expressing concern at serious defects in the Philippine criminal justice system, including the use of torture, lack of access to lawyers and unfair trials, which increase the risk of executing the innocent;
– urging the President to grant an official moratorium on all executions, and to support current moves within Congress to abolish the death penalty.
APPEALS TO: (Please note that fax tones are sometimes difficult to obtain)
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Malacanang Palace
J.P. Laurel St
San Miguel 1005
Manila
Philippines
Telegrams: President Macapagal-Arroyo, Manila, Philippines
Fax: + 63 2 736 1010 / 832 3793
Salutation: Dear President Macapagal-Arroyo
COPIES TO:
Secretary of Justice
Secretary Hernando Perez
Department of Justice
Padre Faura, Ermita, Manila
Philippines
Fax: + 63 2 521 1614
and to diplomatic representatives of the Philippines accredited to your country.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 9 October 2002
