Congress vowed to expedite the proceedings on the bill...

Congress vowed to expedite the proceedings on the bill seeking to abolish the death penalty following the Supreme Court (SC) decision allowing the execution of 30 death convicts this year. Akbayan Party-List Reppresentative Loretta Ann P. Rosales, House civil, political and human rights committee chairman, said the committee will coordinate with the Senate to immediately conduct bicameral hearings on the proposed measure. "We will file a joint resolution asking to stay the executions pending the discussions on the bill," Ms. Rosales said. The Supreme Court had previously dismissed a petition seeking to halt the executions on the ground that the penalty is unconstitutional. The court ruled any plea for reprieve should be addressed to the President and not to the High Tribunal. The petitioner, the Free Legal Assistance Group, had reasoned the Supreme Court should stop the executions since moves to repeal the Death Penalty Law had been snowballing at the Lower House.