On the Commuted Death Sentences

April 17th, 2006 at 6:57 pm (General, National Politics, Religion)

Last Easter Sunday, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo commuted the death sentence of more than 1,200 inmates. Their victims and the families of the victims were outraged. The inmates rejoiced.

I am outraged. It was an unfair and irrational decision.

On the one hand, I am against the death penalty. I believe that the penal system should be based on reform rather than punishment. Even criminals deserve a second chance.

However, the Philippine legislature has deemed it necessary to impose the death penalty for heinous crimes. And the legislation still seems to believe so. And I believe that it is the legislature’s job alone to abolish the death penalty.

Although Arroyo did not legally and technically abolish the death penalty, she effectively did. And it is unfair. It is unfair for the victims and their families who pinned their hopes on the death penalty. It is unfair to those yet seeking justice.

And yes, I do think that she did commute the death sentences to earn brownie points from the Catholic Church and other sectors.

If Arroyo does believe that the death penalty has no place in our society then she should have pursued a legislative agenda to abolish it.

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1 Comment

  1. Cherryl Solitana said,

    May 15, 2006 at 7:58 am

    For me Death Penalty is not the solution of this kind of crime or any other crime commited by human.i do still believe that every person has its own worth and a reason to live, there’s always a good side in each individual.

    its actually unfair to the people who cannot defend there selves, if we impose this kind of law or i mean crime. i guess they should begin to some public officials who defenetly commited a crime over and over again. and theres a lot to mention ( graft and corruption).

    every person should have a chance to live, no person worth taking lives of every human in this world. there always a way to let this people pay of what crime they have committed, and i guess its goverment officials duty to have a solutions, and make this people more productive and give them enough attention of there needs spiritualy,mentaly,and emotionaly.

    im hoping that the goverment officials should open there hearts and let the wisdom of understanding for we are all humans sinner’s in different ways.

    MAY GOD BLESS US!!!

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