CHR welcomes Lacson-Sotto's withdrawal of support for death penalty

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 6) — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) hailed Senators Ping Lacson and Tito Sotto for taking back their long-standing push for the death penalty.

In a statement on Saturday, the agency called the withdrawal a "win for the sanctity of life."

"The Commission on Human Rights welcomes the pronouncement of Senator Panfilo Lacson and Senator Vicente Sotto III abandoning support for the death penalty in the country," the CHR said. "Indeed, an imperfect criminal system may end an innocent life."

Lacson and Sotto - who are running for the top two posts in next year's elections - recently said they no longer support capital punishment, but prefer lifetime imprisonment instead. The two were both known to be staunch advocates of the death penalty.

The CHR said it hopes the recent development would halt the Senate bills pushing for the reimposition of death penalty in the country.

"We ask other legislators who have given their support for this counterproductive measure to reconsider their position and urge them to affirm the right to life and dignity of all persons," it added.