“This demarche was not unexpected.  I gave him the opportunity to make his representation, during which time he also reiterated the strong support of the EU for the sincere efforts of our government to fight crime, except of course on the issue of the death penalty,” Secretary Ople said.

In his demarche, Ambassador Colesanti referred to the statement of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, where she said that she would “no longer stand in the way of the executions scheduled by the courts for January 2004 . . . the President must yield to the higher public interest when dictated by extraordinary circumstances.”

The Secretary and Ambassador Colesanti had an extensive discussion of the issue.  Secretary Ople actively participated in the discussions on the death penalty both as a member of the 1987 Constitutional Commission and later as a member of the Philippine Senate.

 “It was clear from our discussion that the EU understands, although it disagrees, with our decision to lift the moratorium on the death penalty.  It was also clear that the Philippines understands the traditional position of the EU on this matter.  It is regrettable that we are in disagreement, but we agreed to continue to keep our lines of communication on this issue open, and to hear out each others’ positions on this issue,” Secretary Ople said.

 “Like the President, I too am personally adverse, as a matter of moral principle, to the taking of human lives in this manner. However, until there is a clear peremptory norm in the world against the death penalty, it will be up to the state to exercise the prerogatives available to it, and which it sees fit, to fully protect its people,” the Secretary said. END.