Leo Echegaray
Encyclopedia
Leo Echegaray was the first Filipino
to be meted the death penalty (by lethal injection) in 1999 after its reinsatement in the Philippines in 1993, and 23 years after the last execution was carried out under Philippine law. His death sparked debates about the legality and morality of the death penalty in the Philippines.
Echegaray was accused of raping his daughter Rodessa Echegaray (nicknamed by the media as "Baby Echegaray") in April 1994. He was convicted by Branch 104 of the Regional Trial Court in Quezon City on September 7, 1994. The death sentence was automatically reviewed by the Supreme Court and was affirmed on June 25, 1996. It was appealed by Echegaray, but the appeal was denied on January 19, 1999.
Less than a year later, Echegaray was executed on February 5, 1999. Witnesses during the execution have reported that his last words were, "Sambayanang Pilipino, patawarin ako sa kasalanang ipinaratang ninyo sa akin. Pilipino, pinatay ng kapwa Pilipino." http://cpcabrisbane.org/Kasama/1999/V13n1/Bitay.htm ("People of the Philippines, forgive me for the sin that you have accused me of. A Filipino, killed by a fellow Filipino.")
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
to be meted the death penalty (by lethal injection) in 1999 after its reinsatement in the Philippines in 1993, and 23 years after the last execution was carried out under Philippine law. His death sparked debates about the legality and morality of the death penalty in the Philippines.
Echegaray was accused of raping his daughter Rodessa Echegaray (nicknamed by the media as "Baby Echegaray") in April 1994. He was convicted by Branch 104 of the Regional Trial Court in Quezon City on September 7, 1994. The death sentence was automatically reviewed by the Supreme Court and was affirmed on June 25, 1996. It was appealed by Echegaray, but the appeal was denied on January 19, 1999.
Less than a year later, Echegaray was executed on February 5, 1999. Witnesses during the execution have reported that his last words were, "Sambayanang Pilipino, patawarin ako sa kasalanang ipinaratang ninyo sa akin. Pilipino, pinatay ng kapwa Pilipino." http://cpcabrisbane.org/Kasama/1999/V13n1/Bitay.htm ("People of the Philippines, forgive me for the sin that you have accused me of. A Filipino, killed by a fellow Filipino.")
External links
- Enbanc Decision (1996-06-25) People of the Philippines vs. Leo Echegaray (GR 117472) Supreme Court of the Philippines. Retrieved on 22 December 2006.
- Enbanc Decision 1998-10-12) Leo Echegaray vs. Secretary of Justice, et al. (G.R. No. 132601. January 19, 1999) Supreme Court of the Philippines. Retrieved on 22 December 2006.
- Enbanc Resolution (1999-01-19) Leo Echegaray vs. Secretary of Justice, et al.(G.R. No. 132601. January 19, 1999) Supreme Court of the Philippines. Retrieved on 22 December 2006.
- People of the Philippines vs. Leo Echegaray y Pilo (G.R. No. 117472) - text of the Philippine Supreme Court ruling affirming the death penalty
- Leo Echegaray vs. Secretary of Justice, et al. - text of the motion for reconsideration (i.e. the decision on Echegaray's appeal)
- First Philippine execution in 22 years set for January (CNN)
- Death Penalty in the Philippines
- Bitay! Death by Lethal Injection (Solidarity Philippines Australia Network)