Sunday, June 25, 2006 (Philippines)

Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal blesses the office of Dilaab, an alliance of religious groups.(Sun.star photo/Alex Badayos) With a stroke of her pen, President Arroyo abolished the death penalty yesterday, on the eve of her trip to the Vatican, but vowed she will not relent in battling terrorists and criminals. “We shall continue to devote the increasing weight of our resources to the prevention and control of serious crimes, rather than take the lives of those who commit them,” she said, as she signed Republic Act 9346 repealing the death penalty law. The President signed RA 9346 despite strong opposition by anti-crime groups, the kin of victims of heinous crimes and religious organizations, who have all threatened to withdraw support from Arroyo if she proceeds with the signing. [full story]