Death penalty ‘anti-poor, not even fit for terrorists’ — oppositition senatorial bets
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2019 05:44:01 +0000
OPPOSITION senatorial candidates were firm in their position against the death penalty amid moves in government to reinstate it to reduce crime rate in the Philippines.
Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) and human rights lawyer Jose Manuel “Chel” Diokno described death penalty as an “anti-poor” measure during the “fast talk” segment” of “Harapan 2019: The ABS-CBN Senatorial Town Hall Debate” on Sunday night.
“Tutol na tutol po ako sa death penalty dahil anti-poor po ang death penalty (I am totally against death penalty because it is anti-poor). It is not the severity of the punishment but the certainty that stops crime,” Diokno said when asked whether he would push for death penalty even if his daughter would be tagged as victim of a heinous crime.
“No to death penalty,” civic leader Samira Gutoc answered, when asked whether terrorists deserved such punishment.
Gutoc is a vocal critic of martial law, which the government seeks to extend in Mindanao, almost two years after the IS-affiliated Maute terrorists laid siege to Marawi City, her residence.
Diokno and Gutoc are both part of the opposition coalition Otso Diretso.
Earlier this year, the House of Representatives withdrew its approval of House Bill 8909 which imposed capital punishment for drug-related crimes despite the “gentle persuasion” of President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration to fast track its legislation.
The Senate had opposed the measure, claiming its slim chances of getting approved in the 17th Congress. GLEE JALEA
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