Leo Pilo Echegaray (11 July 1960 – 5 February 1999) was the first Filipino to be executed after its reinstatement in the Philippines in 1993, some 23 years after the last judicial execution was carried out. His death sparked national debate over the legality and morality of capital punishment, which was later suspended on 15 April 2006.
In 1994, Echegaray, a house painter, was accused of repeatedly raping Rodessa, the 10-year-old daughter of his live-in-partner (Rodessa was nicknamed "Baby" by the press).[1] During Echegaray's trial, Rodessa's mother accused her daughter of lying and claimed that the accusation was motivated by the greed of Rodessa's grandmother. On September 7, 1994, Echegaray was convicted by Branch 104 of the Regional Trial Court in Quezon City of rape and was sentenced to death. The death sentence was automatically reviewed by the Supreme Court and confirmed on June 25, 1996. Echegaray filed a motion to appeal, which was denied on January 19, 1999. [2][3]
Less than a month later, Echegaray was executed via lethal injection on February 5, 1999. Echegaray was told of the court ruling at noon, three hours before he was to die by lethal injection at Manila's New Bilibid Prison. He would have been the first man to be executed in the Philippines since 1976.
Echegaray's final statement was:
"Sámbayanáng Pilipino, patawarin ako sa kasalanang ipinaratang ninyo sa akin. Pilipino, pinatáy ng kapwa Pilipino."[4] ("People of the Philippines, forgive me of the sin which you have accused me. A Filipino, killed by fellow Filipinos.")
Although Echegaray initially maintained his innocence throughout his trial and in public, he privately admitted his guilt during his last moments. Echegaray's last words were "Baby, forgive me." He was pronounced dead eight minutes later.[5]
^de Castro, Leo (Jan–Mar 1999). ""BITAY": Death by Lethal Injection". KASAMA. Solidarity Philippines Australia Network. 13 (1). Retrieved 14 August 2015.
^"Philippines Executes Child Rapist". AP NEWS. Retrieved 2022-05-18.
External links
Enbanc Decision (1996-06-25) Supreme Court of the Philippines. Retrieved on 22 December 2006.
Enbanc Decision 1998-10-12) Supreme Court of the Philippines. Retrieved on 22 December 2006.
Enbanc Resolution (1999-01-19) 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)
echegaray, this, philippine, name, middle, name, maternal, family, name, pilo, surname, paternal, family, name, echegaray, pilo, echegaray, july, 1960, february, 1999, first, filipino, executed, after, reinstatement, philippines, 1993, some, years, after, last. In this Philippine name the middle name or maternal family name is Pilo and the surname or paternal family name is Echegaray Leo Pilo Echegaray 11 July 1960 5 February 1999 was the first Filipino to be executed after its reinstatement in the Philippines in 1993 some 23 years after the last judicial execution was carried out His death sparked national debate over the legality and morality of capital punishment which was later suspended on 15 April 2006 Leo EchegarayBornLeo Pilo Echegaray 1960 07 11 July 11 1960Manila PhilippinesDiedFebruary 5 1999 1999 02 05 aged 38 New Bilibid Prison Muntinlupa PhilippinesCause of deathExecution by lethal injectionNationalityFilipinoCriminal statusExecutedConviction s Child rapeCriminal penaltyDeath Contents 1 Trial and execution 2 See also 3 References 4 External links 5 External linksTrial and execution EditIn 1994 Echegaray a house painter was accused of repeatedly raping Rodessa the 10 year old daughter of his live in partner Rodessa was nicknamed Baby by the press 1 During Echegaray s trial Rodessa s mother accused her daughter of lying and claimed that the accusation was motivated by the greed of Rodessa s grandmother On September 7 1994 Echegaray was convicted by Branch 104 of the Regional Trial Court in Quezon City of rape and was sentenced to death The death sentence was automatically reviewed by the Supreme Court and confirmed on June 25 1996 Echegaray filed a motion to appeal which was denied on January 19 1999 2 3 Less than a month later Echegaray was executed via lethal injection on February 5 1999 Echegaray was told of the court ruling at noon three hours before he was to die by lethal injection at Manila s New Bilibid Prison He would have been the first man to be executed in the Philippines since 1976 Echegaray s final statement was Sambayanang Pilipino patawarin ako sa kasalanang ipinaratang ninyo sa akin Pilipino pinatay ng kapwa Pilipino 4 People of the Philippines forgive me of the sin which you have accused me A Filipino killed by fellow Filipinos Although Echegaray initially maintained his innocence throughout his trial and in public he privately admitted his guilt during his last moments Echegaray s last words were Baby forgive me He was pronounced dead eight minutes later 5 See also EditCapital punishment in the PhilippinesReferences Edit Philippines executes first prisoner in 23 years CNN Reuters and Mike Cohen 5 February 1999 Retrieved 14 August 2015 G R No 117472 lawphil net Retrieved 2022 05 18 G R No 132601 lawphil net Retrieved 2022 05 18 de Castro Leo Jan Mar 1999 BITAY Death by Lethal Injection KASAMA Solidarity Philippines Australia Network 13 1 Retrieved 14 August 2015 Philippines Executes Child Rapist AP NEWS Retrieved 2022 05 18 External links EditEnbanc 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 PhilippinesExternal links EditAssociated Press archive PHILIPPINES CHILD RAPIST ECHEGARAY EXECUTION 3 PHILIPPINES CHILD RAPIST ECHEGARAY EXECUTED V Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Leo Echegaray amp oldid 1095040083, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
