RE-IMPOSITION OF DEATH PENALTY IN THE PHILIPPINES

Death Penalty or Capital Punishment was implemented in the Philippines after

independence. After the end of Marcos regime, there was a moratorium on capital
punishment from 1987 to 1999, followed by a resumption in executions from 1999 to
2006 and followed by the passage of a law ending its practice.

Death Penalty is a polarizing subject in the Philippines, many support it as a

solution to the growing crime rates in the country while others vehemently oppose it
on religious and humanitarian ground. It is difficult to put a pin on what is the cause
of the increasing number of crimes in the Philippines, but undeniably law enforcement
workings is one of them. The slow resolution of cases, the number of unresolved
crimes and worse, crimes that are perpetrated and backed up by our own law enforcers.

With how bureaucracy in the country works, people tend to lose hope and turns
a blind eye on the ways of the street. Should this culture and behavior left unchecked,
it would only be a matter of time before Philippines lose its last bit of dignity. It now
begs the question on how to stop the ever increasing crime rate in the Philippines and
how to deter criminals from committing crimes.

In the contemporary setting, there is a debate on the re-imposition of death

penalty as the solution to one of the country’s problem and it is viewed as a deterrence
to heinous crimes. Many may argue that studies suggest that death penalty is not an
effective deterrent to crime, but many of these studies are derived from American
society and bureaucracy, we cannot claim the accuracy of these studies if applied to
the Philippines. Even assuming that these studies are applicable, the author is of the
opinion that notwithstanding these, death penalty is a necessary measure in the
Philippines.

Criminals in the Philippines as portrayed and broadcasted in the news appear

to have no fear and regard to our law. Many are shot point blank on busy streets where
shooters just walk it off, others are found dead with part of their bodies found on
several places, the incidence of theft are common on the streets. With how things are
going on the ground, Philippines has to enact measure showing its people how hard it
would go after criminals.

There may be arguments on its effectivity, aside from its humanitarian and
religious considerations, but the country now more than ever, needs to send out a
message on its clear policy towards the increasing crime rate in the country. This is no
longer just a policy on empirical studies but a policy on psychology.