MANILA - The Philippine government will violate an international agreement if it restores the death penalty, human rights watchdogs warned Tuesday as senators deliberated on bills seeking the return of capital punishment.

Commission on Human Rights commissioner Karen Gomez-Dumpit pointed out that Manila had ratified the second optional protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which "prescribes a progressive obligation among nations to abolish death penalty and prevent its reimposition."

The treaty also mandates that, "No one within the jurisdiction of a state-party to the present protocol shall be executed," Dumpit said.

Lawyer Romeo Cabarde of Amnesty International also noted that the Philippines may not back out of the pact as "it does not allow an opt-out provision."

A representative of the justice department, however, argued that while the Philippines must honor its international commitments, government must also base its policies on local affairs.

"Yes, we believe that we have international commitments. But we also believe that we have a responsibility to our countrymen and that is something that we should also look into very carefully rather than close our eyes to what is happening in our country," said Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Richard Anthony Fadullon.

Senator Bam Aquino urged fellow lawmakers to confer with foreign affairs officials regarding the international treaties in the next hearing regarding death penalty reinstatement.