Are you for or against death penalty?
July 21, 2002 | 12:00am
Death penalty in a pre-dominantly Catholic society will always be a very controversial issue. Many people cannot accept that the state can end the life of a criminal rather than reform him. But there are also the victims – or their families – of heinous crimes who will accept nothing less than death for the criminal.
There are two executions scheduled to take place in the next few months. And as always, the question of the death penalty law has come up. As citizens, we are entitled to support or oppose a law – but in the proper forum. Those who are opposed to the death penalty cannot stop the executions from taking place, but they can ask Congress to repeal the law to prevent future execuations.
Former DILG Secretary Alfredo Lim: We are for it simply because there is an existing law imposing the death penalty on certain heinous crimes. Since the law exists, it has to be enforced. If we change policies, we have to repeal the law. Let Congress suspend the operation of the law. What’s happening now is that every time there is a scheduled imposition of death penalty through lethal injection, maraming nagrereklamo. What are these laws for, if they are not going to be imposed? Duralex sed lex – the law might be harsh but that’s the law. We cannot do anything about it except to amend the law. Those who oppose it are attacking the wrong person, as chief executive, the President has to implement the law.
Bayan Muna Representative Crispin Beltran: I don’t think that in its current state the system of justice in the country is fit to carry out the death penalty. There are too many flaws in the justice system, and the balance is often tipped in favor of the rich and the influential. The poor, being unable to pay for the services of good lawyers, are often left at the mercy of unscrupulous judges or to the weaknesses of the system itself. In many cases, the poor are convicted because they do not have the resources or the means by which they can defend themselves. They’re already victims of social injustice and inequality (which is why poor people are forced to commit crimes in the first place), and the death penalty is another law that violates their human rights.
Carina Agarao, national president, Crusade Against Violence: First of all, CAV is not interested in people who commit the crime. We are after the brains of the criminal syndicates and these people are not poor – they are rich and very well-connected. We have solved a lot of crimes because of the death penalty. You see, the poor people who committed the crimes do it solely for the money. When our judges started handing down the death sentence, a lot of these criminals called our office to signify their intention to testify against the mastermind. They’re scared of dying. According to them, giving up their life was never part of the deal. In life imprisonment, they are paid to keep their silence – they have a monthly allowance while in jail, their wives are given a job and their children are sent to school. Aside from this, they are promised that they will stay in prison no longer than six years. With the death penalty, there is no way they’ll cover up for anybody. I urge the Church to focus its efforts on those who commit light offenses because they are released after a short period of incarceration. It is these people that we must prepare for reintegration to society.
Teresita Ang See, spokesperson, Citizens Action Against Crime: The Citizens Action Against Crime has not allowed interviews about the death penalty because the group is divided on the issue. Some are against death penalty, especially those who know how weak the criminal justice system is – innocent people can get convicted while the guilty can get off easily. Some are in favor, especially when it involves kidnapping cases and we know a hundred percent that the culprits are guilty.
Former Justice Manuel Pamaran: I am for it. The issue is whether the execution of criminals is an effective deterrent in the proliferation of heinous crimes. In other words, will those with similar tendencies to commit heinous crimes be reformed? The death penalty will help stop people from performing vigilante justice because the state is doing its job. It shouldn’t be political. Then Texas Governor George Bush, a few days before his election as president, was asked to pardon a death convict to which he said no. The execution pushed through and still he was elected as President.
Rosanna Fores, councilor, Barangay Forbes: I’m against it, because death is something that is left to God to decide. In the US many states have realized that it is not a deterrent to crime. I also believe that people can change and to take away this chance is not right. The Old Testament says "an eye for an eye" but Jesus teaches us to forgive and to have mercy. The death penalty leaves no room for forgiveness and mercy.
Ces Oreña Drilon, TV host: I am against the imposition of the death penalty in our country because of our flawed justice system. It is a system that favors the moneyed and powerful, and where the poor and downtrodden have no voice.
Senator Ping Lacson: I’m in favor of the imposition of death penalty. When Echegaray was given lethal injection, the PNP was swarmed with rape victims reporting crimes because they were encouraged to speak out. I believe it is still a good deterrent against crime.
1st District Leyte Rep. Ted Failon: Death penalty has not been proven to be a deterrent to crime. Only those who can’t afford expensive litigation fees are bound to face it. If a person has committed a crime, life imprisonment is more than enough punishment for him to suffer and to transform him into a better person. After all, God has His way of retribution. The death penalty must be abolished!
Muntinlupa Rep. Raffy Biazon: I’m for upholding the death penalty law. I feel this is one way we can give the victims’ families a sense of justice. As long as the perpetuators of heinous crimes can get away from jail, either by pardon or by escaping, the victims’ families will always feel shortchanged.
The law was passed in 1995 so let us give it a chance to take effect. The anti-poor stand is not a sufficient ground and is based on the corrupt justice system, not on the law. Let us then find a way to take corruption out of the system.
Senator Robert Z. Barbers: I am in favor of the death penalty as I firmly believe that it is an effective deterrent to the commission of crime. However, the death penalty law has not been fully given the chance to prove its effectiveness. If criminals convicted of heinous crimes are executed at least once or twice every month, a very strong message will be sent that the government is serious in its drive to rid the country of criminal elements.
Senator Kiko Pangilinan: I’m against it. It isn’t a deterrent to crime. Also, why is it cruel and inhuman to cut off the hand as punishment but it isn’t when one is put to death? If we are interested in crime prevention, we should focus on punishment being meted out to criminals –whether rich or poor.
There are two executions scheduled to take place in the next few months. And as always, the question of the death penalty law has come up. As citizens, we are entitled to support or oppose a law – but in the proper forum. Those who are opposed to the death penalty cannot stop the executions from taking place, but they can ask Congress to repeal the law to prevent future execuations.
Former DILG Secretary Alfredo Lim: We are for it simply because there is an existing law imposing the death penalty on certain heinous crimes. Since the law exists, it has to be enforced. If we change policies, we have to repeal the law. Let Congress suspend the operation of the law. What’s happening now is that every time there is a scheduled imposition of death penalty through lethal injection, maraming nagrereklamo. What are these laws for, if they are not going to be imposed? Duralex sed lex – the law might be harsh but that’s the law. We cannot do anything about it except to amend the law. Those who oppose it are attacking the wrong person, as chief executive, the President has to implement the law.
Bayan Muna Representative Crispin Beltran: I don’t think that in its current state the system of justice in the country is fit to carry out the death penalty. There are too many flaws in the justice system, and the balance is often tipped in favor of the rich and the influential. The poor, being unable to pay for the services of good lawyers, are often left at the mercy of unscrupulous judges or to the weaknesses of the system itself. In many cases, the poor are convicted because they do not have the resources or the means by which they can defend themselves. They’re already victims of social injustice and inequality (which is why poor people are forced to commit crimes in the first place), and the death penalty is another law that violates their human rights.
Carina Agarao, national president, Crusade Against Violence: First of all, CAV is not interested in people who commit the crime. We are after the brains of the criminal syndicates and these people are not poor – they are rich and very well-connected. We have solved a lot of crimes because of the death penalty. You see, the poor people who committed the crimes do it solely for the money. When our judges started handing down the death sentence, a lot of these criminals called our office to signify their intention to testify against the mastermind. They’re scared of dying. According to them, giving up their life was never part of the deal. In life imprisonment, they are paid to keep their silence – they have a monthly allowance while in jail, their wives are given a job and their children are sent to school. Aside from this, they are promised that they will stay in prison no longer than six years. With the death penalty, there is no way they’ll cover up for anybody. I urge the Church to focus its efforts on those who commit light offenses because they are released after a short period of incarceration. It is these people that we must prepare for reintegration to society.
Former Justice Manuel Pamaran: I am for it. The issue is whether the execution of criminals is an effective deterrent in the proliferation of heinous crimes. In other words, will those with similar tendencies to commit heinous crimes be reformed? The death penalty will help stop people from performing vigilante justice because the state is doing its job. It shouldn’t be political. Then Texas Governor George Bush, a few days before his election as president, was asked to pardon a death convict to which he said no. The execution pushed through and still he was elected as President.
Rosanna Fores, councilor, Barangay Forbes: I’m against it, because death is something that is left to God to decide. In the US many states have realized that it is not a deterrent to crime. I also believe that people can change and to take away this chance is not right. The Old Testament says "an eye for an eye" but Jesus teaches us to forgive and to have mercy. The death penalty leaves no room for forgiveness and mercy.
Ces Oreña Drilon, TV host: I am against the imposition of the death penalty in our country because of our flawed justice system. It is a system that favors the moneyed and powerful, and where the poor and downtrodden have no voice.
Senator Ping Lacson: I’m in favor of the imposition of death penalty. When Echegaray was given lethal injection, the PNP was swarmed with rape victims reporting crimes because they were encouraged to speak out. I believe it is still a good deterrent against crime.
1st District Leyte Rep. Ted Failon: Death penalty has not been proven to be a deterrent to crime. Only those who can’t afford expensive litigation fees are bound to face it. If a person has committed a crime, life imprisonment is more than enough punishment for him to suffer and to transform him into a better person. After all, God has His way of retribution. The death penalty must be abolished!
Muntinlupa Rep. Raffy Biazon: I’m for upholding the death penalty law. I feel this is one way we can give the victims’ families a sense of justice. As long as the perpetuators of heinous crimes can get away from jail, either by pardon or by escaping, the victims’ families will always feel shortchanged.
The law was passed in 1995 so let us give it a chance to take effect. The anti-poor stand is not a sufficient ground and is based on the corrupt justice system, not on the law. Let us then find a way to take corruption out of the system.
Senator Robert Z. Barbers: I am in favor of the death penalty as I firmly believe that it is an effective deterrent to the commission of crime. However, the death penalty law has not been fully given the chance to prove its effectiveness. If criminals convicted of heinous crimes are executed at least once or twice every month, a very strong message will be sent that the government is serious in its drive to rid the country of criminal elements.
Senator Kiko Pangilinan: I’m against it. It isn’t a deterrent to crime. Also, why is it cruel and inhuman to cut off the hand as punishment but it isn’t when one is put to death? If we are interested in crime prevention, we should focus on punishment being meted out to criminals –whether rich or poor.
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