Death penalty should be revived

INTROSPECTIVE By Tony Katigbak (The Philippine Star) | Updated May 13, 2015 - 12:00am

There are many measures being proposed in Congress that I am not in favor of. In fact, I often feel that there are far
too many laws now being enforced or waiting for their turn in Congress that are just duplicates of existing laws or
rewording of laws that are in existence and just not being enforced. I feel that instead of looking for way too many new
laws to pass, we should focus on implementation instead. After all, what is a law if cant be enforced or pushed? Its
just a bunch of words on paper with no real meaning.

However, there is a measure being proposed by Senator Tito Sotto about bringing back the death penalty that I feel
merits more attention. In fact, I have to strongly agree that the death penalty should be revived if we really want to
make a dent in the alarmingly high rise in crime in recent years.

In the past, criminals that were found guilty beyond reasonable doubt of heinous crimes were sentenced to death by
electric chair. And I feel that if this measure were once again available in our judicial system then perhaps criminals
would have something to fear. Ive said in columns past that I think one of the reasons that criminals commit crimes
with abandon here is that they are not afraid of facing consequences. They always feel that they will get away with it.
Perhaps a harder stance on crime is required in order to make real change.

It may not completely eradicate crime. Im pragmatic enough to recognize that, but weve been hungry for some real
change when it comes to dealing out justice and perhaps this could be a good first step. Unfortunately I know that
committing to capital punishment also means committing to being able to dispense justice fairly and truly. After all,
when a human is asked to pay the ultimate price for his crime, we have to be sure that they are guilty 100 percent
beyond reasonable doubt.

Thats the one hurdle I feel the death penalty will face should implementation come to pass. Not only are criminals not
afraid of the consequences of their actions in the Philippines, but they also feel that they will get off when it comes to
prosecution. This is even truer if they have money. In our country we have to face the fact that money talks and
sometimes even if a criminal is caught red-handed, they manage to buy their way out. If capital punishment is once
again implemented, we have to be sure that this can no longer happen. When it comes to this kind of justice, it should
be applicable to everyone or no one. That is the only way it will truly work. After all, look at the case of Mary Jane
Veloso? After all the protesting we did to save her life, we have to be just as flexible when evidence proves that
someone may not be truly guilty.

The road to amending the justice system is definitely going to be very long and very tedious. Corruption must be
weeded out and of course, many human rights activists and the Catholic bishops will protest the return of capital
punishment, but I feel that, if paired with a just and reliable system, it will do more good than harm. After all, why side
with the criminals who roam the streets and commit crimes instead of the victims who have lost loved ones and have
had their lives changed forever? Its time to pay the piper when it comes to heinous crimes and high time to make
criminals fear the consequences of their actions.

Perhaps this way senseless violence can be avoided. I read an editorial recently that spoke about the many acts of
violence people face on the road and I cant help but feel that these cases are a ridiculous waste. Many of them have
even ended in someone losing their lives. Whats astounding is that a lot of the perpetrators have the gall to disobey
road rules and then violently lash out when caught in the act. What gives these terrible road rage perpetrators the
confidence to act so badly? Its the fact that so many of them get away with it with only a slap on the wrist.

Now, dont get me wrong, I dont think road rage criminals deserve the death penalty (unless they killed someone of
course that would be a different story), but I think that if we adjust the justice system to enforce capital punishment
than enforcing punishment for all crimes should level up. I guess in general, I feel that we need to enforce punishment
better across all crimes and that if this happens than I hope we would see a decrease in violence and crime in the
country.

Honestly, it astounds me how brazen criminals can be with little to no regard for human life or safety. Be it cases of
riding in tandem, road rage gone bad, ATM skimming crimes, or even just snatch and pull right on the street in plain
site the incidences of crime are rising at an alarming rate and its become scary to even drive on Edsa in broad
daylight. We see more and more videos being posted on social media sites warning us about new ways criminals are
committing crimes and its become ridiculous already. What do we need to do to make our society safe?

Again, I dont think that re-implementing the death penalty is going to fix it all, but I cant help but feel its a good first
step because it will not only give criminals something to fear, but it will force us to take a good long and hard look at
our justice system as well and fix what needs to be fixed. After all, these steps will go hand in hand if capital
punishment is back in the mix. Its going to be a very long process, but I think its time to bring back the Old Testament
message of An eye for an eye. Its high time criminals have something to fear again.

Duterte: Death penalty for heinous crimes in case theres no God

By: Gil C. Cabacungan - Reporter / @gcabacunganINQPhilippine Daily Inquirer / 07:12 PM September 26, 201
MANILA President Duterte wants to reimpose the death penalty to ensure that criminals pay for their sins in case
God does not exist.
Duterte said bleeding hearts like priests and human rights groups claimed that the death penalty did not deter crime
when it was in effect for years. But he said the problem was past presidents did not have the political will to use it to
strike fear in the hearts of criminals.
Every president along the way didnt impose it only because the Catholic Church and all the bleeding hearts would
say that only God could kill. But what if there is no God? said Duterte in a speech in Malacaang Monday afternoon.
When a one-year-old baby, 18-months-old baby is taken from the mothers arms brought under a jeep and raped and
killed. So where is God? My God, where are you? asked Duterte.
I believe in God but that is my perpetual question to him. Where were you when we needed you? Its not enough to
say that at the end of the world, he will judge the living and the dead. What would be the purpose of all of that if the
heartaches, sorrows and agony have already been inflicted in this world? asked Duterte.
While the Philippines has always been a predominantly Catholic country, some are atheists and agnostics, according to
Duterte. Mind you, its not only one or two or three, in this age a lot of questioning (God) now, said Duterte.
He sought for a return of the death penalty because that would be the only way to win justice for the victims of
heinous crimes.
Duterte, who grew up under the wings of priests from grade school to to law school, said that the lack of justice for
victims of crime has made him question the existence and purpose of God while growing up. SFM

Duterte defends death penalty, questions Gods presence

By Rosette Adel (philstar.com) | Updated September 26, 2016 - 7:22pm

MANILA, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday questioned those who are opposing death penalty and
asked them if their stand would be the same if God did not exist.

Speaking to the members of the Malacaang Press Corps after the oath-taking of Palace journalists' groups, Duterte
first lamented that Filipinos no longer believe in the law because of the absence of fear. He then defended the
reimposition of death penalty, saying the Catholics would say there used to be death penalty in ancient times but it did
not work.

According to National Statistics Office data from 2010, around 80 percent of Filipinos identify as Roman Catholic.

The president explained death penalty is not working because it was never imposed and the faithful are impeding its
implementation with the issue of morality. He said critics of death penalty may point to convicted rapist Leo
Echagarays execution via lethal injection in 1999 as an example of capital punishment that was not able to eradicate
crime.

Then, I can simply say hindi tumalab yung death penalty noon kasi hindi in-impose. Every president along the way
would just say, one, because of the Catholic Church. Second, the bleeding hearts, because only God can kill. Ang
problema niyan I ask you, what if there's no God? he said.

Duterte questioned the combination of morality and the judicial system and continued to doubt the presence of God
amid criminality, violence and other sufferings. He said the people allow criminality with the knowledge that there is
God but asked what if there is no God.

"So, where is ... God when a one-year-old baby... 18-months... year-old baby is taken from the mother's arms brought
under a jeep and raped and killed. So where is God?" Duterte asked, citing rape and killings, as well as women and
children victims in atrocities in Syria and rape victims of Islamic State Group.

"So where is God? My God, where are you? I believe in God but that is my perpetual question to him. Where were you
when we needed you? the president added.

Duterte told Catholics that it is not enough to say God will come to judge the living and the dead when there are
heartaches, sorrow and agony inflicted upon human.

The president has been pushing for a reimposition of the death penalty, a move that House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez
included in his list of priority legislation when he was elected to lead the House of Representatives in July.

5 executions a day if death penalty returns, Duterte quips

House speaker vows bill to revive death penalty out before Christmas
Published October 28, 2016, 2:42 PM

The Philippines might carry out five executions of convicted criminals a day to ease prison congestion once the death
penalty is reimposed in the country, President Rodrigo Duterte candidly remarked during a meeting with the Filipino
community in Tokyo.

Sabi nila hindi na kasi marami na ngayon sa kulungan 1,000. Eh di mag-ihaw tayo mga lima araw-araw,
hindi problema yan, totoo [Some have opposed it even if our jails are overcrowded with some reaching
1,000. But thats not a problem, we will execute five every day], the president said while on a visit to
Tokyo a few days ago.

House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, for his part, has assured the House bill seeking to reinstate death
penalty will be passed before Congress goes on a Christmas break.

I dont know with the Senate, I dont control it, but as far as the House is concerned, we will approve it
before the Christmas break, Alvarez said in a media interview in Tokyo on the sidelines of the Presidents
visit.

Alvarez said it was up to the executive branch to propose about the form of capital punishment. If they
want to hang them, shoot them by firing squad, its up to them. The criminals would be dead either way.

He said death penalty was not an effective deterrent to crimes before because the previous governments
did not carry out more executions. Before they speak, they should look at the record first. How many were
killed? It had not been a deterrent because they kept on objecting, so it was not implemented.

The president, who has waged a brutal war on illegal drugs and crimes, has openly called for the revival of
death penalty to punish criminals assuming that God does not exist, lamenting the Filipinoss disregard
and lack of fear of the law.

Duterte, in his impromptu speech before the Filipino workers, hit back at critics of death penalty, saying it
was not effective in the past because it was not strictly enforced.

He said if he were president then, he would have implemented capital punishment so the country would
have been spared from an enormous drug problem.

Duterte: Death penalty is retribution

President-elect Duterte says detractors of the death penalty have a 'fractured' view of death penalty, as he
thinks the death penalty is less of a deterrent and more of retribution

Pia Ranada
@piaranada
Published 7:08 PM, June 22, 2016
Updated 12:11 AM, June 23, 2016

DAVAO CITY, Philippines President-elect Rodrigo Duterte blasted critics of the death penalty on
Wednesday, June 22.

Speaking at the oath-taking of his friend, Senator Manny Pacquiao, Duterte said detractors of the death
penalty only see one side of the issue.

These critics, he said, see the death penalty as a futile deterrence mechanism because crime rates
continue to rise even in places that impose it.

Duterte called this a "fractured statement."

"Sabi nila, 'yung death penalty, its a deterrence, para madiscourage ang tao mag-commit ng crime
because there is the death penality. Tapos, wala man. Hindi naman natuto ang mga tao. You know, that is a
very fractured statement," he said.
(They say death penalty is a deterrence to discourage people from committing crimes. But it has no effect.
People don't learn anyway. You know, that is a very fractured statement.)

Duterte said this is only one school of thought on the death penalty. He has a different perspective.
"The other school of thought is, 'yang death penalty, hindi 'yan pantakot. Hindi 'yan to deter. Whether you
like to commit a crime or not, thats not my business. Death penalty to me is the retribution," said the
politician known as "The Punisher."
(The other school of thought is, the death penalty is not to instill fear, not to deter. Whether you like to
commit a crime or not, that's not my business. Death penalty to me is the retribution punishment for
doing something wrong. )

Duterte, a believer in karma and eye-for-an-eye justice, said the death penalty is an exact payment from a
perpetrator of a heinous crime.

"Magbayad ka sa ginawa mo sa buhay na ito (You pay for what you did in this life)," he said.
Duterte, set to take his oath as Philippine president next week, wants to bring back the death penalty for
heinous crimes. Rappler.com
Duterte says he wants death penalty for revenge
Agence France-Presse / 01:11 PM June 27, 2016

Incoming-President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday hit out at stupid human rights campaigners, as he
defended his imminent war on crime and emphasized the death penalty was for retribution.
Duterte gave a lengthy speech in his southern hometown of Davao to outline his vision for the nation once
he takes office on Thursday, with a heavy focus on his controversial plans to fight crime.

These human rights (groups), congressmen, how stupid you are, Duterte said, as he highlighted their
criticism of his plans to impose late-night curfews on children being out on the streets and to reintroduce
the death penalty.
I believe in retribution. Why? You should pay. When you kill someone, rape, you should die, he said.
Duterte, 71, won last months presidential elections in a landslide after campaigning largely on a platform
of ending rampant crime, warning that the Philippines was in danger of becoming a narco-state.
He promised that tens of thousands of people would die, with security forces being given shoot to kill
orders.

Since winning, Duterte has also promised to give bounties to police for killing drug dealers, and also
encouraged ordinary citizens to kill or arrest suspects.
Duterte has been accused of links to vigilante death squads during his nearly two decades as mayor of
Davao, which rights groups say have killed more than 1,000 people.
Local and foreign human rights groups have expressed deep concern about his plans as president, fearing
an explosion of extrajudicial killings similar to those seen in Davao.
The United Nations human rights chief, Zeid Raad Al Hussein, this month urged Duterte not to reintroduce
the death penalty, while criticizing other elements of the planned war on crime.

The offer of bounties and other rewards for murder by vigilantes, and his encouragement of extrajudicial
killings by security forces, are massive and damaging steps backwards which could lead to widespread
violence and chaos, Zeid said.
With just three days before assuming the presidency, Duterte stood firm.
When they describe or characterize a human rights violator, these fools make it appear that the people
you kill are saints, as if they are pitiful or innocent, he said.
Duterte said European ambassadors were also among those who had expressed concern over the death
penalty and extrajudicial killings.
The Philippines abolished the death penalty in 2006 following fierce opposition from the Catholic Church,
the religion of 80 percent of Filipinos.
Duterte previously said he preferred death by hanging to a firing squad because he did not want to waste
bullets, and because he believed snapping the spine with a noose was more humane.

Since the death penalty's suspension in 2006, there have been continued public and media calls for its
reintroduction, particularly prompted by high-profile murder cases.

During the 2016 election, presidential candidate and frontrunner, Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte,
campaigned to restore the death penalty in the Philippines. During the "Yes or No" segment of the second
presidential debate on March 20, 2016, Duterte and Senator Grace Poe were the only candidates who said
"Yes" when asked about the restoration of the death penalty in the country, favoring the decision. Duterte,
who won the election in May 2016, supports restoration of the death penalty by hanging. It has been
reported that he wants capital punishment for criminals involved in illegal drugs, gun-for-hire syndicates
and those who commit heinous crimes such as rape, robbery or car theft where the victim is murdered,
while Poe has stated that the capital punishment should apply to criminals convicted of "drugs and
multiple crimes where involved people can no longer be rehabilitated."

Heinous-deserving of hate or contempt.