Chiz: Still no to death penalty

Senator Francis Escudero on Tuesday reiterated his opposition to the death penalty amid following Pope Francis’ appeal for its abolition worldwide.

Escudero, who is running for vice president as an independent candidate, expressed his belief that even convicted criminals deserve a second chance.

“Habang may buhay, may pag-asa at may pagkakataong iwasto ang pagkakamali,” he said in a statement.

While the senator said it is easy to call for the reimposition of capital punishment to solve the crime problem in the country, its advocates should also consider if it were their relatives who are on death row.

“Madaling sabihin, papatayin ko ang lahat ng kriminal. Paano kung kapatid mo, asawa mo, magulang mo o anak mo ang napagdudahang kriminal? O papaano kung totoo? Sabihin natin, totoong kriminal. Walang pag-asang magbago? Walang pag-asang iwasto ang pagkakamali?” he said.

Escudero issued the statement around the same time Pope Francis urged Catholic leaders around the world to suspend death sentences for a year to mark the Holy Year of Mercy. The pontiff said the commandment “You shall not kill” was absolute and equally valid for the guilty as it is for the innocent.

The senator said a pitfall of advocating for the death penalty is the failure to recognize that even convicted criminals are capable of changing and contributing to society.

“Naniniwala ako na walang taong ipinanganak na masama. Naging masama na lamang siya dahi sa kanyang kapaligiran. At kung naging masama man siya, ang Diyos nga nagbibigay ng pagkakataon para magbago at magbagong buhay, tao pa kaya?” he said.

While Escudero said those guilty of heinous crimes must be punished, he noted that the death penalty has been used disproportionately against the poor who cannot afford good legal representation.

“Sa kasaysayan ng parusang kamatayan sa ating bansa, pinataw po lamang ‘yan sa mahirap. Walang napatawan ng parusang kamatayan na mayaman at malaking drug lord,” he said.

The Philippines was the first country in Asia to abolish the death penalty under the ratified Constitution in 1987. It was, however, re-imposed in 1993 during the Ramos administration due to the rising crime rate. Falling under the edict were “heinous crimes” from murder to rape and drug-related offenses.

Executions returned in 1999. Seven inmates were put to death between 1999 and 2000 before then-President Joseph Estrada imposed a moratorium after pressure from the influential Catholic Church and rights groups.

The Philippines completely abolished the capital punishment for all crimes in 2006 with the enactment of Republic Act No. 9346, or “An Act Prohibiting the Imposition of Death Penalty in the Philippines.” — BM, GMA News