Her Excellency, President Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo, President  of the Republic of the  Philippines, 
New Executive Building, 
Malacanang Palace, 
J.P. Laurel Street, San Miguel, 
Philippines 
Email:  opnet@ops.gov.ph;  kgma@yahoogroups.com

         October 2004

Dear Mrs Arroyo
I’m concerned by the information received from FIACAT (International Federation of Action by Christians for the Abolition of Torture, NGO with consultative status with the UN) saying that 29 death row convicts may be scheduled for execution soon in the Philippines.  

I strongly believe that your government’s policy on capital punishment does not address the issues it seeks to resolve, foremost is the perpetration of crimes that the State perceives to be heinous.  

As part of international efforts to protect everyone’s right to life and dignity and build peace, I would like to advocate with and support you in your quest for social justice in your country and especially work for the abolition of the death penalty.   

I also believe that the Death Penalty Law:
- is not a deterrent to crime. To address criminality, government needs to institute a whole range of reforms in the criminal justice system, transformative policies that respond to systemic problems of poverty, injustice, inefficiency and corruption well as facilitate changes in our cultural values; 
- violates the basic right to life and the recognition of the value of life as enshrined in the various international human rights instruments signed by the Philippine State; 
- is an inhumane, degrading and cruel punishment; 
- upholds the outmoded concept of punitive and/or retributive justice that quenches the thirst for vengeance instead of facilitating healing and promoting peace and harmony in society; and     
- victimizes the poor and other marginalized sectors.  

May I, therefore, call on you to work for the immediate re-imposition of the moratorium on the executions of death convicts. 

May I further urge you to make the repeal of the death penalty law a legislative priority, and to support efforts in Congress seeking the abolition of capital punishment. 

Yours sincerely,

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