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[av_heading heading=’ De Lima: No ‘clear’ proof that death penalty deters crime’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY PRINCE GOLEZ, Manila Reporter
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MANILA – Advancing reforms to the criminal justice system, not reinstating the death penalty, would be an effective deterrent against crimes, said Sen. Leila de Lima.
De Lima, who recently spoke at a forum on “The Right to Life and the Death Penalty” at the University of the Philippines College of Law, said there is no “clear” evidence on the deterrent effect of death penalty.
“There are existing data and statistics from various jurisdictions made by international institutions saying that it is not a clear deterrent because the best deterrent is still certainty of punishment,” the former justice secretary said.
The Philippines is a signatory to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights that commits countries to abolish capital punishment.
According to her, there can only be certainty of punishment if the country has a well-functioning and effective judicial system.
De Lima said that Pope Francis also called for the abolition of the death penalty, saying that it cannot be acceptable in modern times and that the right to life is absolute and applies to both the innocent and the guilty.
“Ang pinakasolusyon talaga is that isagawa na ‘yung mga genuine reforms sa ating criminal justice system. Tama ang pagpaparusa, tamang parusa ang binibigat sa imprisonment, at tama rin ang pagpapalakad sa ating correctional system,” she said.
“Mas ‘di hamak po na mas maganda ang imprisonment, ‘yung reclusion perpetua, kaysa sa death penalty. Hindi ho tayo magsho-shortcut sa mga dapat gawin sa ating justice system.”
The newbie senator assured Filipinos that the Upper House will be “careful” in tackling at least six pending bills on the reimposition of death penalty.
“I cannot be sure by my count of those who are pro- and anti-death penalty among the members of the Senate. Pero nakikita ko po at nararamdaman ko na posibleng majority of the members of the Senate ang against death penalty,” de Lima concluded./PN
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