Nov. 8, 2016 – Balay expressed its disappointed on the decision of the Supreme Court earlier today allowing the burial of the dictator Ferdinand Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani (LnmB). The Supreme Court’s decision favored the burial of Marcos gaining 9 votes over 5.

History and Status:

The NPM Bill proposed by the United Against Torture Coalition (UATC) and supported by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) was approved by the Committee on Human Rights in the House of Representatives but did not reach the plenary before the 16th Congress ended on June 30,  2016.  The Senate version of the bill was discussed at the Committee of Justice and Human Rights twice at the instigation of the UATC.

1. 1.      National context 

• The 1987 Constitution of the Philippines prohibits the use of the death penalty by stating ‘the death penalty shall not be imposed unless for compelling reasons involving heinous crimes, the Congress hereafter provides for it.  Any death penalty already imposed shall be reduced to reclusion perpetua’.[1]

 

For more than thirty years DIGNITY – the Danish Institute Against Torture – has specialized in the prevention of torture and ill-treatment, and the rehabilitation of torture survivors. International collaboration with human rights organizations like Balay, aimed at diminishing the after-effects of torture and preventing the use of torture and ill treatment, is at the heart of DIGNITY’s work.