AP FILE PHOTO
Religious groups on Tuesday gave contrarian opinions to lawmakers on the morality of imposing death penalty even on the most heinous of criminals.
Various religious groups read out their position papers during the House justice subcommittee on judicial reforms hearing, which discussed the bill seeking to reimpose capital punishment.
Grecor 鈥淏utch鈥� Belgica, a murder convict turned evangelist, told the committee that even the Bible condones capital punishment on people who have sinned against the commandments of God.
Belgica is the father of defeated senatorial candidate Greco Belgica.
搁贰础顿:听Greco Belgica: Youngest bet vows change to flat tax聽
鈥淏iblical law pities the offended and not the offender, and sympathizes with the aggrieved and not with the aggressor鈥� Biblical law assures 鈥榙ue process鈥� to the offender but bequeaths justice to the offended. In short, justice for the aggrieved, and due process for the aggressor,鈥� Belgica said.
Belgica said capital punishment would ensure the cleansing of the world from sinners.
鈥淕od鈥檚 law establishes the responsibility of civil rulers to act as representatives of the people in doing what is right in the sight of the Lord to cleanse the land of innocent blood. Therefore, we vote for civil rulers who actively support capital punishment for murderers,鈥� Belgica said.
READ:聽Aguirre to solons: Death penalty will instill fear among criminals
鈥淎 magistrate (candidate) who opposes the death penalty for murder is a dangerous man for he stands against the only penalty that will cleanse the land of innocent blood, and therefore, he willfully contributes to the pollution of the land by blood,鈥� he added.
For his part, Father Eli Rowdy Lumbo, executive director of the Philippine Jesuit Prison Service Foundation, opposed the death penalty because it rules out the chance for reformation even to the most heinous criminal.
Lumbo shared his experience of dealing with convicts who regretted committing heinous crimes, and those wrongfully accused of the crime but acquitted after years in detention.
鈥淗ow do we see such persons? Is it not incumbent upon society to form or reform those who have gone astray, to teach those who were not taught and guide those who have made wrong decisions?鈥� Lumbo asked the lawmakers.
鈥淲e make a stand against the restoration of the death penalty. It is not the solution to the criminality that confronts our country and the death of the offender is not the answer to senseless deaths of the innocent. We stand for reformation and rehabilitation of the offender,鈥� he added.
READ: Solons warn of death penalty railroad by limiting it to drug cases
Leyte Rep. Vicente 鈥淐hing鈥� Veloso, the chairperson of the House justice subcommittee, said this issue has divided the nation, but he takes courage from the children of the nation whose future is at stake.
鈥淟istening to both parties, I am in a bind鈥� If I would say I am not in favor, what would my children say?.. The issue has divided the great minds of our society,鈥� Veloso said.
It was Speaker Pantaleon聽Alvarez聽who first filed the bill seeking to reimpose聽death聽penalty聽after former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo abolished capital punishment in 2006 for its failure to deter crime.
Alvarez聽filed the bill to reinstate聽death聽penalty, pursuant to President Rodrigo聽Duterte鈥檚 campaign promise of returning capital punishment against heinous criminals.
聽搁贰础顿:听First bill in Congress seeks reinstatement of聽death聽penalty
Alvarez鈥檚 bill sought to reimpose聽death聽penalty聽on heinous crimes listed under Republic Act 7659, including murder, plunder, rape, kidnapping and serious illegal detention, sale, use and possession of illegal drugs, carnapping with homicide, among others.
In the bill he co-authored with deputy speaker Capiz Rep. Fredenil Castro,聽Alvarez聽said there is a need to reimpose聽death聽penalty聽because 鈥渢he national crime rate has grown to such alarming proportions requiring an all-out offensive against all forms of felonious acts.鈥�
鈥淧hilippine society is left with no option but to deal with certain grievous offenders in a manner commensurate to the gravity, perversity, atrociousness and repugnance of their crimes,鈥� according to the bill.
搁贰础顿:听鈥楧eath聽penalty聽back in one year鈥�
Duterte has won the elections in a campaign promise to restore聽death聽penalty聽by hanging, even making a snide remark that the convicts鈥� head should be severed from the hanging.
Alvarez said Congress would look into the cheapest way for聽death聽penalty, either by firing squad, lethal injection, or by hanging. TVJ
搁贰础顿:听Death聽penalty: 鈥楾he cheaper, the better鈥�