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[av_heading heading=’‘Modern justice system,’ not death penalty – Kiko’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY PRINCE GOLEZ
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MANILA – Reimposing death penalty won’t end crimes in the Philippines; modernizing the justice system will, Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said.
“Swift punishment and immediate disposition of cases pending before the courts, regardless of penalties involved, and not the reimposition of death penalty, will restore respect for the rule of law in the country,” said Pangilinan.
On Wednesday, Dec. 7 the House justice committee voted 12-6-1 to approve a bill reintroducing capital punishment for heinous crimes.
Executions shall be carried out by hanging, lethal injection or firing squad, the bill stated.
Various studies proved that criminals were undeterred by death penalty, Pangilinan stressed.
It “will not lead to more convictions, nor will it ensure that cases will be decided swiftly and the guilty punished,” said the former Senate justice committee chairman.
Meanwhile Sen. Panfilo Lacson has an opposing view: He said heinous crimes should be punishable by death.
“Sa experience ko sa law enforcement, nang na-lethal injection si (Leo) Echegaray, andaming rape victims who came forward to complain because they were encouraged nang nakita nilang na-execute si Echegaray,” said the former Philippine National Police chief.
Lacson had filed Senate Bill No. 42, which sought to reimpose death penalty on certain crimes. He said the “alarming” surge of heinous crimes in recent years has shown that life imprisonment cannot stop grave offenders.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros, on the other hand, stressed that reimposing capital punishment defeats the government’s efforts in building rehabilitation facilities for convicted drug users and peddlers.
“The broad scope of crimes punishable by death (under the bill) is extremely bothering,” she said. “What is the point of building a mega-drug rehabilitation center in Nueva Ecija if the government wants all drug addicts killed anyway?”
Other senators who filed bills on death penalty were Sherwin Gatchalian, Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao, and Vicente “Tito” Sotto III./PN
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