MANILA, Nov. 4, 2012— The Catholic Church remains firm on its stand against death penalty amid calls to revive the capital punishment in the wake of a gruesome murder incident in Cavite.
Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo thumbed down proposals to resurrect death penalty, saying that it will not prevent criminals from committing heinous crimes.
“Death penalty is definitely not the solution to it,” Pabillo said.
The bishop stressed that death penalty is a risky policy in a country where the justice system is facing serious challenges and has to undergo reform.
“We all know what happens with the death penalty, those who are punished with it are the poor and not the real perpetrators,” said Pabillo.
“It’s because the real problem lies with our justice system,” he added.
The death of 20-year old Cyrish Magalang, who was found to have been stabbed 49 times in Bacoor City last week, has spurred renewed calls for the reimposition of the death penalty.
The head of Magalang, a tourism cum laude graduate of the University of Santo Tomas, was also smashed almost beyond recognition.
Two men who have confessed their involvement in Magalang’s death are already in police custody.
The suspects, who authorities said are brothers, also admitted to taking illegal drugs. [RL/CBCPNews]
