EUROPEAN UNION. EU HAILS END OF DEATH PENALTY IN PHILIPPINES, PRESSES OTHERS

the European Commission welcomed the adoption of a bill by Philippine legislators to abolish capital punishment, saying it hoped other countries in the region would follow suit.
"The European Union is against the death penalty everywhere and in all cases, and we are delighted that the government of the Philippines has taken this decision," said EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner.
"It is a decision that respects human rights and the best standards of justice and we hope that others in the region will follow the Philippine example" she added.
The proposed law abolishing the "heinous crimes" act of 1994 passed without dissent in the Senate late on June 6 after a more contentious vote in the House of Representatives.
Officials said President Gloria Arroyo was likely to sign it into law. Her spokesman Ignacio Bunye told reporters the presidential palace "welcomes the passage of the bill abolishing the death penalty."