Execution Is Not the Solution: Say No to Death Penalty

Wazzup Pilipinas!

"The death penalty is unacceptable, however grave the crime of the convicted person. Capital punishment contradicts God's plan for individuals and society, and his merciful justice." - Pope Francis

Let's address the real problem by saying #NoToDeathPenalty and an astounding #YesToWarOnPoverty. These hashtags are better since executions are never the solution.

Let's look at the bigger picture. Poverty is the real source of shit in our country. If everyone can afford to live the good life, there won't be crimes happening, no one will be hooked on drugs to forget their problems, and no one will have to die by lethal injection, firing squad, or any other ways to be killed by the state.

The government should ensure that it is a #WarOnPoverty not a #WarOnThePoor which is what happened to the #WarOnDrugs - a lazy man's way to get rid of crime by eliminating even the suspected or accused without due process of law. Just like how Davao was purged of criminals, mostly those involved in illegal drugs, by the leader who had a codename of "Superman" and the alleged mastermind of the Davao Death Squad (DDS).

No to extra judicial killings and death squad. Our current justice system could not even accurately identify the wrongdoers. They could wrongfully persecute an innocent person. Many were wrongfully sentenced to death because of the screwed justice system.

There are OFWs in abroad facing death sentenced, and Filipinos are shouting and calling for clemency but now some are pushing for the passage of the policy here in the Philippines. Ironic indeed!

Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in any and all circumstances. Here's why:

1. The death penalty is the ultimate violation of human rights.
2. It violates the right to life as proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
3. It is the premeditated and cold-blooded killing of a human being by the state in the name of justice.
4. It is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment.
5. The death penalty is not a unique deterrent to crime.
6. The death penalty is discriminatory and is often used disproportionately against the marginalized sector of society, the poor, minorities and members of racial, ethnic and religious communities.
7. It is imposed and carried out arbitrarily.
8. The death penalty legitimizes an irreversible act of violence by the state and will inevitably claim innocent victims.
9. The judiciary is composed of people who are fallible, thus the risk of executing the innocent can never be eliminated.
10. Execution brings extreme physical and mental assault on an individual. The physical pain caused by the action of killing a human being cannot be quantified, nor can the psychological suffering caused by foreknowledge of death at the hands of the state.

Christians believe that human life is God’s gift, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle said, as people were created in his image, and every person saved by Jesus Christ. “This is the reason why an ethic of life, a culture of life, is inconsistent with abortion, euthanasia, human trafficking, mutilation, and violence against innocent and vulnerable persons. Before God the source of life, we are humble. We cannot pretend to be gods."

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