Debate on death penalty to be revived in Senate
SOURCE: PDI
Proposals to resurrect the death penalty law have resurfaced in the Senate following the spate of crimes that rocked Metro Manila in the new year.
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SOURCE: PDI
Proposals to resurrect the death penalty law have resurfaced in the Senate following the spate of crimes that rocked Metro Manila in the new year.
Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri has filed Senate Bill No. 2383 seeking the re-imposition of the capital punishment on murderers and drug traffickers.
But some of his colleagues promptly shot down the idea, saying the death penalty would not be the solution.
Senator Francis Pangilinan suggested that a “crime czar” be appointed, “someone who is resolute and results-driven.”
In SB No. 2383, Zubiri argued the removal of the death penalty law in 2006 was “greeted with jubilation by criminal syndicates and hardened criminals.”
“Recent events would prove the fear of the silent majority of our society to be true, that is, the repeal of the death penalty sets us back on our peace and order efforts,” he said in the bill’s explanatory note.
Zubiri said the absence of death penalty also “emboldens criminals to wantonly disregard the rule of law and the dignity of human life.”
Authorities are still investigating the gruesome murder of two car dealers and an employee in separate incidents last week.
The bodies of Emerson Lozano, his driver Ernane Sensil, and fellow car dealer Venson Evangelista were charred and bore gunshot wounds. The 30-year-old Evangelista’s remains were also mutilated.
Pangilinan said the incidents “give a foreboding sense of lawlessness.” But he still did not support calls to revive the death penalty law.
“It is the certainty, not the severity, of punishment that brings fear in the hearts of would-be criminals,” he said.
“No matter how severe the penalty imposed, if convictions are few and far between, or cases drag on for years on end without punishment, then criminality will remain rampant.”
Pangilinan added: “It is the swiftness of punishment regardless of the penalty involved that will ensure respect for our laws and instill fear in the hearts of would-be criminals in our criminal justice system.”
Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano agreed that the death penalty would not necessarily deter crimes.
“Even if you impose the death penalty on criminals but you cannot get them, the law would not be a deterrent,” he said in Filipino.
“So what deters crime? It’s the certainty that [criminals] would be arrested.”
But some of his colleagues promptly shot down the idea, saying the death penalty would not be the solution.
Senator Francis Pangilinan suggested that a “crime czar” be appointed, “someone who is resolute and results-driven.”
In SB No. 2383, Zubiri argued the removal of the death penalty law in 2006 was “greeted with jubilation by criminal syndicates and hardened criminals.”
“Recent events would prove the fear of the silent majority of our society to be true, that is, the repeal of the death penalty sets us back on our peace and order efforts,” he said in the bill’s explanatory note.
Zubiri said the absence of death penalty also “emboldens criminals to wantonly disregard the rule of law and the dignity of human life.”
Authorities are still investigating the gruesome murder of two car dealers and an employee in separate incidents last week.
The bodies of Emerson Lozano, his driver Ernane Sensil, and fellow car dealer Venson Evangelista were charred and bore gunshot wounds. The 30-year-old Evangelista’s remains were also mutilated.
Pangilinan said the incidents “give a foreboding sense of lawlessness.” But he still did not support calls to revive the death penalty law.
“It is the certainty, not the severity, of punishment that brings fear in the hearts of would-be criminals,” he said.
“No matter how severe the penalty imposed, if convictions are few and far between, or cases drag on for years on end without punishment, then criminality will remain rampant.”
Pangilinan added: “It is the swiftness of punishment regardless of the penalty involved that will ensure respect for our laws and instill fear in the hearts of would-be criminals in our criminal justice system.”
Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano agreed that the death penalty would not necessarily deter crimes.
“Even if you impose the death penalty on criminals but you cannot get them, the law would not be a deterrent,” he said in Filipino.
“So what deters crime? It’s the certainty that [criminals] would be arrested.”
