"Killing people is corruption. Killing is a crime and a sin whether it is done by criminals or public officials no matter what the intention. Adultery is corruption. It makes married love cheap and uses people for pleasure. Adultery corrupts the family; it destroys children and victimizes the weak." These were the words of Bishop Socrates Villegas told in a television interview.
Is Davao Mayor Duterte who runs for Presidential seat really a threat to the country?
NATURAL LAW: Thou shall not kill (Matthew 19:18; Ephesians 4:31;
Matthew 22:39-40; Romans 13:9)
CAUSE: “If I become president you better hide. The 1,000 (people killed) will
become 50,000. I will kill you all for making the life of the Filipino
miserable.” These were the words of presidential candidate Mayor Rodrigo
Duterte uttered in a television interview while on his campaign period.[1]
THREAT: Mayor Rodrigo Duterte could be the likes of Presidents Ferdinand Marcos [2]
and Fidel Ramos [3]
who
could be an instrument to legalize death penalty law in the Philippines. The country emulates so much of the western
civilization in terms of law which is evident through Reproductive Health Bill (RH
Bill). Copying of foreign culture is not bad at all as long as it promotes autonomy for
the common good.
The
death penalty process is a devastating experience for families, often necessitating
them to feel again the pain and suffering of the death of their loved ones for
several years. Life without parole/pardon provides particular sentence without
the endless reopening of wounds.
Hundreds
of millions of dollars are wasted on the death penalty annually. Replacing the
death penalty with life in prison without parole is saving millions of dollars that
could be spent on violence-prevention efforts, solving unsolved cases, and
increasing victim services.
For
example, California taxpayers pay $90,000 more per death row prisoner annually
than on prisoners in regular incarceration.[4] The
government has spent more than $4 billion on capital punishment since it was re-established
in 1978 (about $308 million for each of the 13 executions done). They exhaust an additional $184 million on
the death penalty annually because of the additional costs of capital trials,
enhanced security on death row, and legal representation.
The
study forecasts that the cost of the death penalty will arrive at $9 billion by
2030.
The
death penalty PLACES IT CONCENTRATION on the legal consequences, NOT THE HUMAN
CONSEQUENCES. Attention is directed on
the crime and the accused, instead of where it belongs — on the family and
loved ones of the victim and on the community. Life without parole penalizes the criminal without placing him or
her in the headlines.
Death penalty is not feasible[5] as it is not a proven prevention of future murders than
life imprisonment sentence. William Bowers, Criminologist of Northeastern
University claims that society is brutalized by the use of death penalty which
intensifies the ritual hood of murder. In the US where death penalty is
legalized has a higher rate compared with countries like Europe and Canada without
death penalty. Further studies disclose that the number of Homicides in several
countries including Canada, Australia and Jamaica have remained the same or
even fallen after the elimination of death penalty. The Amnesty International concludes
that factors like education, unemployment and poverty are determinants of crime
than the absence of death penalty.
In
death penalty, there is always a probability of mistakes wherein correction is
impossible yet after an inmate is executed.
Amnesty International unveils that there were illegal methods including
planting of evidences, and the use of ill treatments and torture to obtain
confessions from crime suspects. For example, Eusebio Molijan who was sentenced
to death for multiple murder in an attempted 1950 robbery and executed by
electrocution in 1958 have been falsely convicted. He was convicted on the
strength of a written confession which he took back on his trial confessing
that he had been punched in the stomach and beaten by a piece of wood by police
to force him for admission. He also revealed that he has been compelled against
his will to take part in the robbery and that another man had prepared and
carried out the crimes. The Supreme Court admitted of this flaw, but this death
sentence was confirmed.
In
the same incident, Fernando Galero, a 26 years old, fish vendor, innocent but sentenced to death because he cannot
afford to pay competent lawyers. Richard Ong, 33
years old, innocent who was sentenced to death who was tortured and
confessed something which he didn’t commit. Japanese Hideshi Suzuki, 38 years old, was sentenced to death because of marijuana trafficking, planted
on him by a police officer based on a disclosure.
Taken
from these flaws simply proves that the judicial system in the Philippines is
sometimes incompetent, inequitable, and defective which should be prioritized
and reinforced.
The
state’s legalization of retribution or social vengeance as a reason for taking
a life violates Christian deepest belief in God as the creator and the redeemer
of human life. The use of death penalty augments the acceptance of revenge
in the society and provides official approval to a climate of violence.
The
National Council of Churches in the Philippines claims
that execution prevents remorse and physiotherapy of wrongdoers which is
contrary to Christian love and contravenes that conservation of the sanctity of
human life. Humans have the right to atone for their transgressions. Bloodless means
of prevention and sentence are ideal as they’re compatible with concrete
conditions of the common good and corresponds with the dignity of the human
person.
In
conclusion, the death penalty should not be re-established but rather sustain
Jesus’ teachings of love and reconciliation.
Education
of the human person through honing of God given talents, intellectual
development, fine-tuning of character, reverence on God, and appreciation of His
creation are the most significant. No one could revere God or appreciate His
creation if the state is taking the life that Jesus created.
Jesus
himself is a victim of capital punishment but instead of vengeance, He pardons
those who humiliated Him and even prayed for them.
NATURAL LAW: Thou shall not
commit adultery (Matthew 19:18; Mark 7:22; Ephesians 5:3-4; Matthew 22:39-40); Romans 13:9)
CAUSE: “I have a wife who is sick. Then I have a
second wife, who is from Bulacan.” I have two girlfriends. One is working as a
cashier and the other works for a cosmetics store at a mall. The one working at
the cosmetics store is younger. The other one is older but more beautiful, says Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.”
THREAT: Sexual
immorality is pleasurable but its long-term effect is not gratifying.
The
adult children of cheaters often struggle with trust issues of their own. 55 percent of adult children that came from
families where one parent is unfaithful ends up being cheaters themselves,”
according to Dr. Ana Nogales a clinical psychologist[6].
If
a politician cannot be trusted by his spouse, then why should the public trust
them? A leader is not like a technician who can do a good technical job while
being a bad person. A politician is a leader – being a ‘good person’ is compulsory
for being a leader.
NATURAL LAW: Avoid
profane, idle talk, for such people will become more and more godless. (2 Timothy 2:16. No obscenity or silly or suggestive talk, which is out of place, but instead,
thanksgiving. (Ephesians 5:4)
CAUSE: "Natiming
sa traffic... Inabot kami ng limang oras. Sabi ko bakit, sabi nila sarado na
ang... Sino darating? Si Pope. Gusto ko tawagan, 'Pope, [Filipino cuss words],
umuwi ka na. Huwag ka na magbisita dito,'" he said. (“We
were affected by the traffic. It took us five hours. I asked why, they said it
was closed. I asked who is coming. They answered, the pope. I wanted to call
him, "Pope, (cuss words), go home. Do not visit us again.”)[7]
THREAT: Any behavior
that poses a socially negative impact on oneself or others, like saying a curse
word out loud, is not suitable no matter who, or how many people are into this
habit. Human nature is best served by whatever every person can perform to perk
up the positive flow of influence and assist the society stay alive and serenely.
A simple thing like oral articulation can inflict self-confidence, tranquility
and heartening emotions; or, fuming and violent expressions stretches reactions
of desperation, unconstructiveness, and ruins self-image.
If
given the opportunity, cursing China for example while in the heights of territorial
disputes would just heighten the already incensed atmosphere than peaceful
resolution.
References:
[1] Jomar Canlas, DOJ
chief: Duterte liable for murder,
http://www.manilatimes.net/doj-chief-duterte-liable-for-murder/186474/, May 25,
2015 9:19 pm
[2] Ace
Tamayo, PH affirms stance vs death penalty, http://www.rappler.com/nation/31421-ph-affirms-commitment-against-death-penalty,
Published 11:04 AM, June 16, 2013
January
29, 2014 10:31 pm
[4] Sacramento
Bee, http://deathpenalty.org/article.php?id=42, Source: "CLOSING DEATH ROW
WOULD SAVE STATE $90 MILLION A YEAR", Published on March 28, 1988, Page
A1, 2589 words.
[5] M. Fajardoo, Death Penalty in the Philippines, http://www.academia.edu/4739278/Death_Penalty_in_the_Philippines
[6] Lara Tan, Duterte
under fire for comment on Pope Francis, CNN Philippines, http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2015/12/01/Davao-Mayor-Rodrigo-Rody-Duterte-Pope-Francis-traffic-CBCP.html,Updated
18:03 PM PHT Tue, December 1, 2015
[7] Alizah Salario, How Infidelity Affects the Kid, http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/05/28/arnold-schwarzeneggers-affair-how-infidelity-affects-the-kids.html
[7] Alizah Salario, How Infidelity Affects the Kid, http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/05/28/arnold-schwarzeneggers-affair-how-infidelity-affects-the-kids.html
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