‘Healthy debate’ promised on death penalty

MANILA, Philippines — Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano yesterday assured critics of the government’s move to restore capital punishment of ample opportunities to engage in a “healthy debate” while the House of Representatives deliberates on the proposal. 

“I can promise all of our kababayans, whether you are pro or against, that there will be a very healthy debate in the House. We want to prevent crimes of course. And that is our objective and main concern, especially those heinous crimes. So, for those who want a war against death penalty just continue to pray, but also work hard for peace and order,” he said. 

He called on Filipinos to help reduce crimes in their communities as he stressed that, when done, it might lessen or totally eradicate crime and would even make moot the debates on death penalty.

“Let’s discuss death penalty in the context of prevention, and deterrence of crime and not as an end by itself,” Cayetano pointed out, noting that CCTVs actually help deter crimes in communities, particularly those well-lit areas.  

President Duterte also found an unlikely ally in the new opposition leader, House Minority Leader Bienvenido Abante, who expressed his stamp of approval to the government’s plan to revive capital punishment for heinous crimes.  

“I have always supported the re-imposition of the death penalty that was repealed during my time in the 13th Congress, but only on certain heinous crimes like: massacre, terrorism, killing with rape, plunder,” Abante said.  

The born-again pastor from Manila issued the statement following pronouncements made by presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo that the national government may even support capital punishment by hanging as a method to deter crimes.  – With Roel Pareño