BY ISMAEL AMIGO, 1st-APLUMA NATIONAL PRESIDENT

IT’s a good thing that President Aquino did not join the bandwagon calling for the revival of the death penalty for heinous crimes, after the gruesome deaths of two car dealers.

 

The President stressed during an interview that he is not keen on reviving capital punishment, saying that the country's imperfect justice system may lead to the conviction of the wrong person.

 

P-Noy is correct in saying that the clock cannot be turned back if an innocent person is executed. Hindi mo na mabubuhay pa ang taong binitay na walang kasalanan.

 

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In a study conducted in the United States involving some police chiefs and other law enforcement agencies, it was revealed that they do not believe that the death penalty has any deterrent effect on individuals who commit violent crimes.

 

The officers rank the death penalty last as a way of deterring or preventing violent crimes. They ranked it behind many other forms of crime control including reducing drug abuse and use, lowering technical barriers when prosecuting, putting more officers on the streets,and making prison sentences longer.

 

They responded that a better economy with more jobs would lessen crime rates more than the death penalty. In fact, only one percent of the police chiefs surveyed thought that the death penalty was the primary focus for reducing crime.

 

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Many are saying that the "eye for an eye" rule should be used on hardened individuals who commit heinous crimes.

 

But how about Jesus Christ’s "let those who do not sin cast the first stone?"

 

Mas maganda siguro na pagdusahan na lang ng isang kriminal ang kanyang pagkakasala sa bilangguan kung saan araw-araw niyang nanaising mamatay dahil sa hirap.

 

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Death penalty is not the solution here. In order for the justice system to work, the four pillars of justice should be implemented property.

 

First, laws should be enforced properly without fear or favor. Authorities should not be beholden to anyone because above the law.

 

Second, offenders should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. 

 

Third, the judicial system should be cleansed so as to assure that justice to the victims will be served.

 

Fourth, an effective correction system that will rehabilitate offenders.

 

We have so many existing laws to deter these crimes. They should be followed to the letter and not implement a quick-fix but unproven solution.

I rest my case.

React: esns03@yahoo.com