Makabayan solons buck death penalty revival in light of Tarlac shooting

Members of the House Makabayan Bloc on Tuesday maintained that reinstating death penalty in light of the killing of Sonya and Frank Anthony Gregorio by Police Senior Master Sergeant Jonel Nuezca will not cure the defects in the country's justice system.

The progressive lawmakers made the remark amid renewed calls for the reimposition of capital punishment following the killing of the Gregorio mother and son in Paniqui, Tarlac last Sunday.

"We in Gabriela Women's Party are firm in our stand that the defects of our judicial and legal processes that enable impunity cannot be cured by the re-imposition of the death penalty," said Gabriela Women's Party Representative Arlene Brosas in a statement.

"Naninindigan kami na hindi kailanman solusyon ang pagkitil ng buhay sa mga suliraning panlipunan. Tanging mga ordinaryong mamamayan ang mapaparusahan sa death penalty," she added.

Brosas said the killing of Sonya and Frank, which took place in the middle of an argument with Nuezca over "boga" and right of way, stems from the "fascist orientation and impunity" within the Philippine National Police, made worse by the "shoot-to-kill orders" of President Rodrigo Duterte.

She pointed out that Nuezca had also faced two cases involving homicide in 2019, and yet he was not made accountable for it "because the President of the Philippines himself is their backup."

"Mas malaking hamon para sa atin sa kasalukuyan ang pagsasaayos ng justice system: kung paano mapabibilis ang pagpapanagot sa maysala lalo sa hanay ng pulis at militar, kung paano maglilingkod sa mahihirap na walang kakayanan at hindi lang sa iilang mayayaman at makapangyarihan, at magbibigay ng patas na oportunidad para makamit ang hustisya," Brosas said.

Like Brosas, Bayan Muna party-list Representative Ferdinand Gaite also opposed the reinstatement of death penalty following the Tarlac shooting.

He stressed that the country does not need harsher punishment but "certainty of justice."

"This impunity and disregard for the rule of law cannot be remedied by death penalty but with our return to the reign of justice," Gaite said.

"This could start by resolving the numerous cases of extrajudicial killings and by ending state-sponsored attacks on the people including those against drug-related suspects," he added.

Several lawmakers, including Speaker Lord Allan Velasco himself, condemned the killing of Sonya and Frank Anthony, with the House leader even saying that Nuezca must not go unpunished.

Parañaque City Representative Joy Myra Tambunting, for her part, supported the use of body cameras during police operations to ensure transparency.

"This includes more extensive sensitivity training in dealing with volatile situations. Any instance where the loss of an innocent life occurs by the hands of those who swore to protect is one life to many," she said.

ACT-CIS party-list Representative Niña Taduran, meanwhile, said there should be cross-checking on the cases filed against police officers to know if these have been properly evaluated and investigated.

"Notwithstanding the dismissal of the case, a police officer charged with grave misconduct should not be immediately readmitted to active duty status until after a thorough review of his record and upon undergoing psychiatric evaluation," she said.

Nuezca turned himself in to the police and was indicted for two counts of murder.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra has said the Department of Justice will ensure justice will be served. —KG, GMA News