Aquino: Fixing justice system more important than death penalty revival

President Benigno Aquino III. AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday said fixing the justice system is more important than the imposition of the death penalty.

Aquino said the government would have to “thoroughly study the proposal” of the revival of the death penalty despite concerns on the rash of crimes in the country.

He expressed reservations on the death penalty revival, citing that persons sentenced to death may not be able to avail themselves of all opportunities to prove their innocence due to imperfections in the justice system.

“The question is, is the convict given all the opportunities to defend himself or herself in court? Can we absolutely be sure we are not wrongly sentencing someone to death? Sad to say, this is still a work in progress,” Aquino told reporters during the awarding of the Ten Outstanding Filipino (TOFIL) awards in Muntinlupa City..

“We have to be absolutely sure a person is guilty because an execution cannot be undone,” he said.

According to Aquino,  the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) is bombarded with work and may not have the time or resources to review a convicted person’s case.

Senator Vicente Sotto III on Tuesday, January 28, has filed a bill in the Senate to revive the death penalty.

Aquino, however said, the death penalty is not the only deterrent to crime, since arrest and the certainty of punishment will also make people think twice before committing a crime.

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