Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Manila (Fides Service) - On the occasion of the World Day Against the Death Penalty, October 11, 2004, the Episcopal Commission on Prison Pastoral Care of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines strongly appealed to president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to repeal the Death Penalty Law 7659 and instead enact a new law providing for a penalty that will have the same effect as intended by the death penalty in protecting society.
The Bishops say the government should pursue the purpose of incarceration that is rehabilitation for prisoners and restitution to the victim/s they stress the need to find another way to defend society that will obviate the need for capital punishment “which only brings out the worst in all of us”.
“We believe that we should give lawbreakers a chance to repent, rehabilitate and truly pay for their crimes - the Bishops said in a press statement - While in prison a convict can work and the money he or she earns may be used to pay back the families of the victims. At the same time convicts should have the chance to change their lives and attitudes and perhaps truly repent and atone for the actions and reconcile with society”.
The Bishops’ Conference says that the abolition of the death penalty will also prevent the execution of innocent persons who might have been convicted because of flaws in our juridical system. “We therefore implore our President to heed the call of other countries in the world which have abolished capital punishment to exercise once more her sound judgement by endorsing, in lieu of death, the alternative penalty being proposed by some congressmen and to suspend all executions”.
The death penalty in the Philippines in force under the dictator Fernando Marcos was abolished by president Corazon Aquino in 1987, but it was re-introduced in 1994 by president Ramos, concerned at the increase in crime. In 2000, for the Catholic Church the Year of the Great Jubilee, the Church and many human rights organisations pressed governments to abolish the death penalty and in the Philippines executions were suspended indefinitely. However because of increasing violence and kidnappings for extortion this suspension was revoked on 5 December 2003 by president Gloria Arroyo.
Through local and national representatives the Church in the Philippines has always pressed for the repeal of the Death Penalty Law which, it underlines, does not serve as a deterrent for criminals. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 11/10/2004 righe 45 parole 447)
