Lifting of death penalty ban hailed

The business community banded together yesterday to commend President Arroyo for her tough stance on crime, including the lifting of the moratorium on the imposition of the death penalty for heinous crimes.

In a manifesto signed by various business chambers, the business community commended the recent efforts of the Arroyo administration to "uphold the supremacy of law."

They cited the arrests of known leaders of kidnapping syndicates, the capture of one of the most senior leaders of a terrorist group, and the successful raids on clandestine manufacturers of prohibited drugs as marks of "determined leadership, professionalism, good coordination, effective intelligence and hard work."

However, the business sector said "the campaign for peace and order, however, takes place in a larger socio-economic context and over a much broader time horizon."

They also said "it requires the creation of more jobs for more people" and also "calls for a reduction of the level of poverty."

Those who signed the manifesto include Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), Robin Sy of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce & Industry Inc. (FCCCI), Miguel Varela of Philippines Inc., Francis Chua of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce Foundation Inc.;

Donald Dee of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP), Cesar E.A. Virata of the Bankers Association of the Philippines (BAP), Jesus Arranza of the Federation of Philippine Industries Inc. (FPII), Shameen Qurashi of the Philippine Association of Multinational Companies (PAMC) regional headquarters, Eduardo Hernandez of the Petroleum Association of the Philippines (PAP), Edward L. Fereira of the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP);

Edgardo Limon of the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (FEIP), Noemi Saludo of the Port Users Confederation (PUC) and Joselito Aseniero of the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA).

Luis said the death penalty "is a deterrent to crime. It’s simple logic. (Athough) nobody claims it is a foolproof deterrent, if it would spare even just one victim, it’s already worth it."

Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines Foundation (CCPF) president Francis Chua shared the same view that the death penalty is "not a total solution" to the country’s peace and order problem, but he said the President should be given a "free hand" in dealing with the problem of criminality. He praised government action on the risk it took in lifting the moratorium on executions.

He also said the move to lift the moratorium on executions should not be equated with politics. "We should move forward," he said. "The important thing is there is certainty of punishment for heinous crimes."

The business groups said the importance of job opportunities for more people and the reduction of the poverty level will ensure peace and order.

"It means giving everybody a stake in a peaceful and orderly society," they said in a statement.

Luis, Varela and other business group leaders are set to meet with National Anti-Kidnapping Task force (NAKTAF) chief Angelo Reyes Friday to discuss the government’s efforts to solve and prevent kidnappings and what the business sector can do to help in the effort.

Many Chinese-Filipino businessmen expressed concern over the matter of the government-instituted mobile and fixed checkpoints. They sought assurance at the meeting that these checkpoints would not be abused by the police officers who man them.

Makati Business Club executive director Guillermo Luz underscored the MBC position that, beyond capital punishment, improved arrest of criminals is the best deterrent against crime.

"Penalties are important, but a criminal has to get caught first to impose the penalty," Luz said.

He also said the criminal justice system — from arrest to prosecution and conviction — should also "flow smoothly and work well" because "any delays obviously weaken the whole criminal justice system. — With Marianne Go