There are a number of issues and statements that stand out in the second State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Benigno Aquino III [see full transcript of original Filipino speech or the full text of English translation]. We’ll pick up an issue or two during our down time, maybe during the rare 4-day [...]

As reported in BBC News, the United States Supreme Court stopped the execution of a death convict, pending a determination if the chemicals to be used in the execution would cause pain (based on the constitutional prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment). The challenge, however, is not based on the argument that the death penalty [...]