How refreshing this is to read:

Presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye on Thursday said the result of President Arroyo’s consultation with members of the Senate and the House of Representatives on the issue showed that eight senators and 125 congressmen favor repealing Republic Act 7659, or the Death Penalty Law.

...During President Arroyo’s term, no convict has even been executed, notwithstanding that the President lifted the moratorium in October of 2001 and restored it again after six months.

On Tuesday President Arroyo closed the book on the possibility of lifting the moratorium on the death penalty, saying executions do not guarantee a reduction in crime rates. She said the solution to reducing crime incidents is to overhaul the criminal justice system.

“The President already made a policy statement that capital punishment is not the answer; the better alternative is to strengthen the justice system,” Bunye said.