Cities of life: Talisay stands firm vs. death penalty

CEBU, Philippines – Talisay City has formally joined the 1,215 "Cities for Life" - cities around the world that stand firm against the death penalty.

A Talisay City council resolution states that the city has been declared the sixth city in the whole country that has formalized its position against death penalty.

"Capital punishment is the relic of the past as it has been for slavery and torture that were eventually rejected by the conscience of the World. Supporting the above (Cities for Life) will lead to a new and higher threshold in the respect for Human Rights," reads council resolution 2010-98.

Parole and Probation Administration 7 Director Ofelia Quijano said there are only six cities in the whole country that have officially made a stand against the death penalty.

This is also the first time Region 7 will join the celebration which will be launched on December 2.

The 9th International Day of Cities for Life will be celebrated on November but due to some restrictions, the country will be celebrating it on December 2.

Talisay City, in a joint effort with the City of Cebu, the fifth City of Life will construct an obelisk or a marker signifying its pro-life advocacy.

The marker will be illuminated on the day of the celebration.

Representatives from Community of Sant'Egidio, the founder of Cities for Life, will be in Cebu to witness the celebration and to get the commitment of the officials of the two cities to raise awareness on a higher and more civil form of justice.

Quijano said the PPA and the Community of Sant'Egidio advocate for Restorative Justice and not for Retributive Justice.

Restorative Justice, according to Prison Fellowship International, emphasizes on repairing the harm caused or revealed by criminal behavior which is best accomplished through cooperative process among stakeholders.

Retributive Justice, on the other hand, applies the principle of "an eye for an eye" or that which says "the severity of penalty for a misdeed or wrongdoing should be reasonable and proportionate to the severity of the violation."

Quijano said taking a stand against penalty is significant especially now that there have been many petitions to restore death penalty in the justice system. (FREEMAN)