CBCP disputes Duterte on death penalty
An official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said reforming the country’s criminal justice system is the solution to worsening criminality, not the restoration of the death penalty as proposed by Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. The statement was made by Fr. Jerome Secillano, executive secretary of the CBCP Public Affairs Committee, who was reacting to the statement of Duterte, a candidate for president, that he will recommend to Congress the restoration of the death penalty, by hanging in public, if he is elected to Malacañang. He said Duterte has been misled into thinking that the death penalty deters crime. “You do not deter crime by hanging criminals. You deter crime by having efficient and effective law enforcers, incorrupt judges and lawyers and strict and fearless prison administrators,” said Secillano. “On impulse, it appears that killing criminals is effective. But If criminals believe that they can buy [...]