Group calls for abolition of the death penalty law

A human rights group has renewed its call for the government to abolish Republic Act 7659, or the death penalty law, contending that it failed in its intent to be a deterrent to crime aside from its being a gross violation of human right to life and dignity.

Death penalty was never an effective deterrent to crime, as records showed that while the number of people on death row has gone over a thousand at present, criminality in the country has also been rising, said the group, Mamamayang Tutol sa Bitay-Movement for Restorative Justice.

The MTB-MRJ group said the law is also a cruel, inhumane and degrading punishment that characterizes an outmoded and barbaric retributive justice system, which also victimizes the poor and uneducated who are "highly vulnerable in a flawed justice system."

The group said that in 2005 alone, various courts nationwide have handed down a total of 196 death sentences on convicts, most of who are male and belonging to low-income families.

Of the 1,205 convicted to death, most were for the crime of rape. This was followed in order by multiple rape, kidnapping, robbery with homicide, rape with homicide, kidnapping with serious illegal detention, and illegal drugs.

The group also reported that, as of January 2006, the Supreme Court has reviewed 1,513 death-sentence cases. Of these, 270 cases were affirmed, 69 were acquitted, 30 were dismissed, 645 were modified, 37 were remanded for further proceedings, six were reclusion perpetua to death, and 456 were moved to the Court of Appeals.

"We firmly believe that the abolition of the death penalty is a significant step towards forming a kind of justice system that restores and heals both the victims and offenders," the group said in a statement.

The group further asked the government to align the national laws, policies and practices of the criminal justice system with the international human rights standards and review, and amend the Revised Penal Code of 1932 covering the anti-vagrancy law, comprehensive dangerous drugs law of 2002, and other laws.

Human rights education must be integrated into the recruitment and training program of lawyers, law enforcement agencies, public prosecutors, court personnel, judges and correctional institution personnel and improve and enhance correctional mechanisms and processes. - Wenna A. Berondo