Bacolod bishop unhappy over Duterte’s death penalty plan

BACOLOD CITY –– Bacolod Bishop Patricio Buzon on Monday expressed dismay over President Duterte’s call to bring back the death penalty.

“I find that we are again retrogressing. I thought that we were already moving towards a more humane civilization and society. It’s sad,” he said.

“Our stand is very clear. Even in the Church, we have already grown in maturity about understanding that issue. It’s sad. I think we are moving backward,” he said.

In his 4th State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday, President Duterte asked legislators to restore the death penalty for “heinous crimes related to illegal drugs and plunder.”

Col. Gemma Vinluan, director of the Cebu City Police Office, supported the President’s appeal.

“If people know that the penalty is death, they will become more disciplined,” she said in an interview.

“Why do Filipinos follow the laws in other countries where there is a death penalty? It’s because they know that the penalty is stiff. Here in (our) country, Filipinos are very lenient, especially those involved in illegal drugs,” she added.

Willy Ramasola, a Bohol resident, supported the plan of President Duterte to restore the death penalty.

“It’s hard to eradicate illegal drugs because of corruption,” he said.

Ramasola said the recent Sona gave the Filipinos the real status of the country.

“It was a truthful and very informative Sona,” said Ramasola, 46, a native of Bohol. 

“There was less cursing and no more hyperboles. Which is what most of us want to hear,” he added.