MANILA: The Department of Justice (DOJ) yesterday reiterated its opposition to the re-imposition of the death penalty, saying it would not lower crime statistics.
“Justice that kills is not justice. The imposition of capital punishment has no positive impact on crime prevention or security and does not in any way repair the harm done to the victims and their families.
“The department believes that it cannot and should not exist where the conditions for determining guilt or innocence is so imperfect,” the DOJ said in a recent statement.
“There is no quick or instant solution to this problem,” it added.
As far as drug trafficking is concerned, the DOJ assured the public they are one with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Dangerous Drugs Board in pushing for bold anti-drug initiatives. It cited the need for a new system of exchange of information, aggressive drug law enforcement activities and socio-economic programmes.
The DOJ said it recognizes the importance of bringing a human rights perspective to the national drug control regime.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) also stood firm on its position “for life and against death” amid calls for the restoration of the death penalty.
CBCP president Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas said death penalty is cruel and inhumane in view of the “terrible anxiety and psychological distress” of a person awaiting execution.
“It has been rightly said that the anticipation of impending death is more terrible a torture than suffering death itself,” he said.
The Philippine Star
