Philippines
Death penalty and prisoners' rights · Archive since 1999
Data card
- Legal status
- Abolitionist
- Executions recorded in 2026
- 0
- Executions recorded in 2025
- 0
- First news item in the archive
- JANUARY 1, 1999 · The leader of Crusade Against Violence, Carina Agarao,...
- News items in the archive
- 557
Source: Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026.
Philippines is classified as Abolitionist in the Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026. In 2026 the association recorded 0 executions in the country, against 0 the year before. The archive holds 557 news items on Philippines, from 1999 to today.
The Philippines abolished the death penalty in 2006, having already suspended and reinstated it in the past, and ratified the international protocol that forbids its restoration. Since then bills to bring it back have been tabled several times, above all for drug offences.
The archive follows that debate and the parliamentary initiatives.
Latest news
SEPTEMBER 25, 2026PhilippinesDEATH PENALTYPhilippines: once sentenced to death in indonesia, Mary Jane Veloso receives pardon
NOVEMBER 25, 2024PhilippinesDEATH PENALTYTHE PHILIPPINES GETS INDONESIA TO REPATRIATE A WOMAN ON DEATH ROW FOR DRUG SMUGGLING
Intense and sustained diplomatic work between Indonesia and the Philippines has paved the way for the repatriation of Mary Jane Veloso, who was sentenced to death in 2010 on charges of drug trafficking, Asia News reported on November 20, 2024.
DECEMBER 4, 2023ChinaDEATH PENALTYPHILIPPINES SAYS CHINA HAS EXECUTED TWO FILIPINOS CONVICTED OF DRUG TRAFFICKING DESPITE APPEALS
China has executed two Filipinos for drug trafficking despite high-level Philippine government appeals to commute their death sentences to life in prison, the Philippine government said December 2, 2023.
AUGUST 3, 2020PhilippinesDEATH PENALTYPHILIPPINES: CHR WARNS OF VIOLATING INT'L TREATIES BY REINSTATING DEATH PENALTY
An official of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has warned the government of possible sanctions from the international community if it pushes through with the move to restore capital punishment in the country.
JULY 27, 2020PhilippinesDEATH PENALTYPHILIPPINES: DUTERTE RENEWS PUSH FOR DEATH PENALTY FOR DRUG CRIMES
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on 27 July 2020 drug offenders should be executed by lethal injection, in a fresh push for the death penalty as part of his anti-narcotics crackdown that has killed thousands.
JUNE 14, 2020PhilippinesDEATH PENALTYPHILIPPINES: 11 OF THE 16 OFWS PARDONED IN BAHRAIN ARE REPATRIATED
Eleven of the 16 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Bahrain earlier granted royal pardon have been deported to the Philippines, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said on 11 June 2020.
- JANUARY 1, 2020PhilippinesDEATH PENALTY
On June 24, 2006, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed a law abolishing the death penalty.
On June 24, 2006, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed a law abolishing the death penalty.
- JULY 24, 2019PhilippinesDEATH PENALTY
PHILIPPINES: DUTERTE URGES LAWMAKERS TO RESTORE DEATH PENALTY
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte urged lawmakers on 22 July 2019 to bring back the death penalty as part of his internationally-condemned crackdown on narcotics in which police have already killed thousands.
FEBRUARY 8, 2019PhilippinesDEATH PENALTYPHILIPPINES: DEATH PENALTY REMOVED FROM BILL AMENDING DANGEROUS DRUGS ACT
The House of Representatives removed all provisions that would reimpose the death penalty in the bill seeking to amend provisions of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
- JANUARY 1, 2019PhilippinesDEATH PENALTY
On June 24, 2006, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed a law abolishing the death penalty.
On June 24, 2006, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed a law abolishing the death penalty.
- JANUARY 1, 2018PhilippinesDEATH PENALTY
On June 24, 2006, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed a law abolishing the death penalty.
On June 24, 2006, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed a law abolishing the death penalty.
MARCH 7, 2017PhilippinesDEATH PENALTYPHILIPPINES: HOUSE OKS RESTORING DEATH PENALTY FOR DRUG CASES
The Philippine House of Representatives approved a bill to restore the death penalty by hanging, lethal injection or firing squad for drug offenses despite opposition from the influential Roman Catholic church and human rights groups.
- FEBRUARY 13, 2017PhilippinesDEATH PENALTY
PHILIPPINES: LEGISLATORS WATER DOWN DEATH PENALTY BILL
Administration lawmakers have agreed to water down the controversial death penalty bill by drastically
- JANUARY 1, 2017PhilippinesDEATH PENALTY
On June 24, 2006, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed a law abolishing the death penalty.
On June 24, 2006, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed a law abolishing the death penalty.
- MAY 17, 2016PhilippinesDEATH PENALTY
PHILIPPINES: DUTERTE'S PLAN TO RESTORE DEATH PENALTY FACES STRONG OPPOSITION
A plan by Philippine President-elect Rodrigo Duterte to restore the death penalty faces strong opposition,
- JANUARY 1, 2016PhilippinesDEATH PENALTY
On June 24, 2006, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed a law abolishing the death penalty.
On June 24, 2006, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed a law abolishing the death penalty.
FEBRUARY 11, 2015PhilippinesDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: BLOOD MONEY PAID FOR FILIPINO ON DEATH ROW
A member of the Saudi royal family ordered the government to pay ‘diya’ (blood money) on behalf of a Filipino who is serving jail for killing a compatriot after he converted to Islam and persuaded 14 other Pinoys to embrace the religion, according to a me
- JANUARY 1, 2015PhilippinesDEATH PENALTY
On June 24, 2006, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed a law abolishing the death penalty.
On June 24, 2006, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed a law abolishing the death penalty.
SEPTEMBER 8, 2014Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYOFW FREED FROM SAUDI DEATH ROW NOW HOME
An Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia is finally home.
MAY 22, 2014QatarDEATH PENALTYQATAR: FILIPINO MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR ESPIONAGE
A Doha Criminal Court has sentenced a Filipino man to death and two of his compatriots to life
- JANUARY 1, 2014PhilippinesDEATH PENALTY
On June 24, 2006, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed a law abolishing the death penalty.
On June 24, 2006, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed a law abolishing the death penalty.
NOVEMBER 3, 2013PhilippinesDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: BLOOD MONEY FOR FILIPINO ON DEATH ROW SHORT OF TARGET AMOUNT ON DEADLINE
On the day of the deadline for its payment, the blood money raised so far for Joselito Zapanta, the Filipino
SEPTEMBER 19, 2013PhilippinesDEATH PENALTYPHILIPPINES: PARDONED OFW LANUZA BACK AFTER 13 YEARS
After 13 long years, Rodelio "Dondon" Lanuza, the overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who was saved from death row in Saudi Arabia, finally arrived in the country in the afternoon, ending his family's long wait and putting a happy ending to a story that even i
JULY 3, 2013PhilippinesDEATH PENALTYCHINA: FILIPINA DRUG MULE EXECUTED
A Filipina sentenced to death for drug trafficking in China was executed by lethal injection, the
MAY 29, 2013PhilippinesDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: FILIPINO HELD DEATH ROW RELEASED
Rogelio ‘Dondon’ Lanuza, the overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who killed a Saudi national, is expected
- MARCH 12, 2013PhilippinesDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: PHILIPPINES RACES TO RAISE MONEY TO SAVE MURDER CONVICT ON DEATH ROW
Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah has suspended executions of Filipinos for three months, giving a Filipino
- MARCH 11, 2013PhilippinesDEATH PENALTY
the Hanoi City People's Court trialed defendant Javier Engracia Ebalang...
the Hanoi City People's Court trialed defendant Javier Engracia Ebalang...
- JANUARY 31, 2013PhilippinesDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: ‘BLOOD MONEY’ RESCUES DOOMED FILIPINO FROM EXECUTION
An overseas Filipino worker who has languished on death row in Saudi Arabia for more than a
- JANUARY 1, 2013PhilippinesDEATH PENALTY
On June 24, 2006, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed a law abolishing the death penalty.
On June 24, 2006, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed a law abolishing the death penalty.
OCTOBER 31, 2012VietnamDEATH PENALTYVIETNAM: FILIPINA DRUG MULE SENTENCED TO DEATH
Vietnam sentenced a 61-year-old Filipina to death after she was caught smuggling