[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

May 12



PHILIPPINES:

Death penalty should be revived



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 can't be enforced or 
pushed? It's 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. I've 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. I'm pragmatic enough to recognize that, 
but we've been hungry for some real change when it comes to dealing out justice 
and perhaps this could be a good 1st 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 % beyond reasonable 
doubt.

That's the 1 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? It's 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 can't help but feel that these cases are a ridiculous waste. Many of them 
have even ended in someone losing their lives. What's 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? It???s the fact that so many of them get away 
with it with only a slap on the wrist.

Now, don't get me wrong, I don't 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 it's 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 it's become ridiculous already. What do we need to do to 
make our society safe?

Again, I don't think that re-implementing the death penalty is going to fix it 
all, but I can't help but feel it's a good 1st 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. 
It's going to be a very long process, but I think it's time to bring back the 
Old Testament message of "An eye for an eye." It's high time criminals have 
something to fear again.

(source: Opinion, Tony Katigbak----The Philippine Star)