Pro-life solon says support for death penalty ‘weak, shallow’

A pro-life lawmaker on Monday said public support for the reinstatement of the death penalty is “weak and shallow,” citing an online poll posted at the House of Representatives website.

In a statement, Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza said those who expressly support the restoration of capital punishment were merely frustrated at the poor justice system.

Atienza said this “thirst for justice” should be quenched by fixing the law enforcement and the judicial system instead of resorting to the death penalty.

“Offhand, many Filipinos who appear to favor the revival of capital punishment are merely venting their exasperation over the miserable performance of our criminal justice system,” Atienza said.

READ: Alvarez: No minors to be punished with death penalty

Atienza cited an online poll in the Congress website which showed that 50 percent of participants supported death penalty, while a close 48 percent rejected it. At least two percent was undecided.

Atienza said the ratings imply that the issue “is highly discordant matter that is best deferred by Congress.”

It was Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez who first filed the bill seeking to reimpose the death penalty after former president Gloria Arroyo abolished capital punishment in 2006.

Alvarez filed the bill to reinstate the death penalty, pursuant to President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign promise of returning capital punishment against heinous criminals.

 READ: First bill in Congress seeks reinstatement of death penalty

Alvarez’s bill sought to reimpose the death penalty for heinous crimes listed under Republic Act 7659, including murder, plunder, rape, kidnapping and serious illegal detention, sale, use and possession of illegal drugs, carnapping with homicide, among others.

In the bill he co-authored with deputy speaker Capiz Rep. Fredenil Castro, Alvarez said there is a need to reimpose the death penalty because “the national crime rate has grown to such alarming proportions requiring an all-out offensive against all forms of felonious acts.”

“Philippine society is left with no option but to deal with certain grievous offenders in a manner commensurate to the gravity, perversity, atrociousness and repugnance of their crimes,” according to the bill. JE/rga

READ: ‘Death penalty back in one year’