The Philippines Senate will rush the passage of a bill...

The Philippines Senate will rush the passage of a bill repealing the death penalty before the first execution of a death convict under the Arroyo administration in October.
Senator Francis Pangilinan, chairman of the committee on justice and human rights, said the joint committees deliberating the bill will soon conclude with public hearings and come up with a report at the soonest time possible. At the same time, Pangilinan called on Malacanang to hold scheduled executions in abeyance until Congress approves the bill.
"I call on Malacanang to rethink its stance and study the supervening events that warrants a stay in the execution of death convicts," Pangilinan said.