CBCP exec: Pass laws to fix the country, not to please Duterte
An official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Friday urged the candidates leading in the senatorial race not to pass laws that would only please President Duterte.
‘Work for people’s welfare’
Rodolfo Diamante, the executive secretary of the CBCP’s Commission on Prison Pastoral Care, told the incoming senators to keep in mind that the bills they would work on should “address the problems of our country.”
“They have been elected by the people to work for their welfare, not the President’s,” Diamante said.
Culture of violence
The CBCP official took particular note of the possible revival of the death penalty, which, he said, “will never be a solution to the problems of crime.”
Article continues after this advertisement“It is antilife, anti-poor and will enhance only the culture of violence that is now prevailing in our country,” Diamante said.
Article continues after this advertisementHe added that a quick-fix solution like the death penalty is not what Filipinos need.
“Don’t give our people a quick-fix solution to our people’s problem. They deserve something better,” Diamante said.
On Thursday, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said there is a “possibility” for the revival of the death penalty for high-level drug trafficking, especially that the new set of senators joining the 18th Congress favors its re-imposition.
Capital punishment
President Duterte has long wanted to re-impose capital punishment, supposedly to instill fear among criminals.
Based on the partial, unofficial results of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting on Friday, 10 of the 12 candidates in the winning circle fully or conditionally favor the re-imposition of the death penalty.
They are: reelectionist Senators Cynthia Villar, Sonny Angara and Koko Pimentel; former presidential aide Bong Go; Taguig Rep. Pia Cayetano; former Bureau of Corrections chief Bato dela Rosa; former Sen. Lito Lapid; Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos; former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chair Francis Tolentino; and former Sen. Bong Revilla.
Only reelectionist Senators Grace Poe and Nancy Binay oppose the reimposition of the death penalty, which was abolished by the Arroyo administration in 2006.
