Death penalty should be revived

I think it’s time for the government to revive the death penalty in view of the rising heinous crimes being perpetrated out on the streets and homes even in broad daylight. Some of the murders take place in full view of the public and there are others could be drug-induced. Despite CCTV cameras on the streets, lampposts on roofs of houses and shopping centers, the killers don’t seem to mind being identified. Some of the criminals are paid for their dastardly act, because they know that even if they are caught alive they will spend time in prison and eventually released or dug their way out of prison. Our jails are already overcrowded so it makes sense to dispose of first degree murderers to dispose of those who are found by the judge of guilty beyond reasonable doubt to execute them. It may not solve the crime entirely, but the killers may have to think twice before committing the crime.

Just recently, we had Indonesia and Singapore having capital punishment in their constitution just like our Southeast Asian neighbors. In fact we already had capital punishment before until 2006 when president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo abolished it. Now we are thinking of reviving capital punishment led no less by the president and two prominent legislators in Senate president Tito Sotto and Sen. Manny Pacquiao which I believe will draw huge supporters as he has many fans. I, myself, am in favor of the death penalty. I hope capital punishment will be passed into law during the Duterte administration.

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 lethal injection. 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.

I 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 first 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 percent beyond reasonable doubt.

That’s the one 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 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 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 that 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 incidence 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 first 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 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.