On death penalty revival: Solons urged to vote “no”

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma and other pro-life advocates are calling on Cebuano lawmakers to “listen to the voice of conscience” in making a vote on the proposal to revive the death penalty.

“I really hope they would manifest their opposition to that… I trust that they listen to the voice of their conscience and come out with the decision that is well-thought and discerned,” Palma told reporters at the sidelines of an event of the Kapisanan ng mga Broadcaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) - Cebu Chapter.

He said that while the Church understands how a law is passed in a democracy, he hopes that legislators also listen to the people, considering that the Philippines is the bastion of Christianity in Asia.

“And yet when we act, we hope it would reach to the consensus of the people and they would listen and, of course, discern” Palma said.

“We can only manifest our voices, but in the end, like democratic countries like ours, it is the lawmakers who enact their laws,” he said.

He also hopes that President Rodrigo Duterte would still change his mind on the matter.

It is no less than the President that is pushing for the reinstatement of the death penalty to punish those committing heinous crimes.

“I think, knowing his desire to live a legacy that would be for the good of people, he would be gracious enough to change decision. In fact, we have seen how he changes, how he modifies his decision on some issues,” Palma said.

Walk for life

Yesterday, about 800 pro-life advocates walked from the Cebu City Hall to the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral for a prayer rally against the death penalty.

At the Cathedral, they prayed the rosary, which was followed by a Holy Mass.

Cebu Archdiocese auxiliary bishop Oscar Jaime Florencio, in a prayer, stressed that God alone is the author and giver of life.

Cebu-based human rights advocate Dr. Rene Bullecer, in a speech, said the gathering was organized to stand up for a cause and remember Presidential Proclamation 214, which former President Corazon Aquino issued to declare the second week of February as “Respect and Care for Life Week.”

Bullecer is the current country director of Human Life International-Pilipinas, which is recognized as the biggest prolife and pro-family organization worldwide. It is present in 164 countries.

He urged yesterday’s participants to pray that lawmakers be moved by their conscience to vote against the bill that seeks to reinstate the death penalty. He believes that “nothing is impossible with prayers.”

Sentiments

Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella believes ending human life is an unlawful act. He said human life should be protected as it is a gift from God.

He also took a swipe at lawmakers who want the crime of plunder excluded from those punishable by death.

Cebu City North District Representative Raul del Mar, as a staunch pro-life advocate for more than 20 years, said one should stand firm on his principles but he will respect the position of his fellow congressmen from Cebu.

In a speech yesterday, Del Mar said anti-death penalty legislators are outnumbered in the House of Representatives, which is dominated by allies of the President. The bill, in fact, is one of the President’s priority bills.

Aside from this, pro-death penalty lawmakers are reportedly threatening those who will not support the legislation that they may lose their standing or committee chairmanships in the lower house.

For his part, Cebu Seventh District Representative Peter John Calderon, said he is still undecided on the issue. He, however, dismissed that Congress is being pressured to support the President on the issue.

“I’m still listening to the arguments sa mga pro and against so ibutang ra nato one half of me wants to say yes, one half of me wants to say no, so undecided,” Calderon said.

Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan who is fighting the bill said there is no compelling reason to re-impose it since it has not yet been proven yet that the death penalty is a deterrent to crime.

Pangilinan said the only solution to bring back the people’s respect to the rule of law is to have a fair, impartial, and speedy disposition of cases. He said this can be done by modernizing the justice system by allocating enough funds to appoint more judges to fill vacancies and establish more courts to unclog dockets of existing courts, among others.

“The present justice system is crying out for reforms,” he said.

Palma said yesterday’s rally should not be the last.

“There should be another Walk for Life event in the future … the whole idea is life is so precious and when it is threatened, we should stand… when people are united and work together, there is now way we cannot emerge victorious in this cause. We are together in solidarity against the death penalty,” he said. (FREEMAN)