An association of lawyers has asked the Supreme Court to stop scheduled executions while the bicameral Philippine congress is deliberating on the proposed abolition of capital punishment.
In a petition filed before the Supreme Court yesterday, the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) said there is a sure sign that congress is about to abolish the death penalty since 102 of the 214 congressmen and 12 of the 22 senators have pledged to vote for the move.
FLAG asked the Supreme Court to review the cases of 30 death convicts whose rights were violated by the police, the prosecution and the justices that tried their cases.
The scheduling of state execution now "would be improper", said FLAG.
It has also asked the United Nations Human Rights Commission to ask the Philippine government to stop executions while congress tackles the issue.
FLAG asked the apex court to stop the scheduled execution of several convicted rapists.
Eddie Sernadilla was scheduled for execution on September 3, Filomeno Serrano on September 20, Alfredo Nardo on October 16, Jimmy Jacob on October 31, and Ramil Rayos on January 8 next year.
President Gloria Arroyo deferred the August 30 schedule of rapist Rolando Padayawon in deference to Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin whose 74th birthday falls on the same date.
In 1999, Semadilla was found guilty of raping a six-year-old child in November, 1997. The Supreme Court confirmed his death in January, 2001.
Nardo was convicted of raping his daughter.
Serrano, a former taxi driver, was sentenced to die for raping his daughter, now in her late teens. Jacob has admitted to raping his daughter.
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