Papal Nuncio lauds abolition of death penalty

The Vatican’s envoy lauded the Philippines yesterday for passing a bill last week abolishing capital punishment but said the Arroyo administration must not only respect life but also "uphold its dignity" by easing the widespread poverty in the country.

"To this brave choice we should also be able to associate respect for fundamental rights of the person, that is to say, the right to have a dignified life, to secure work, to have residence, to obtain education and then to exercise the freedom of expression of the political and religious ideals," Archbishop Fernando Filoni said during the traditional vin d’ honneur for the diplomatic corps in celebration of the Philippines’ 108th Independence Day.

"It’s a contradiction to uphold the abolition of the death penalty while the other rights of a person have not properly been defended," Filoni said.

Filoni, also dean of the diplomatic corps, said the members of the international community were happy about the government’s decision to repeal the death penalty and noted the move could be a start of many other reforms.

"The introduction of the law that abolishes capital punishment in the Philippines, I believe, indicates the more elevated and accomplished perspective of civilization. It is a sign of profound human sensitivity capable of judging the administration of justice according to the criteria of healing rather than vindicating as well as respect to those who have unfortunately violated the dignity of life itself," Filoni said.

Filoni congratulated the country’s leaders for promoting the "culture of life" and wished the government well in its efforts in "building stronger economy, building stronger republic and pressing for longer and overdue political reform."

"I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your government every success in this endeavor," he said.

As the country celebrates its independence, Filoni said the life of the country and the people would not only depend on the past but on the present and the future.

It would be solely up to the Filipino people to act to improve their lives and that of their country.

Foreign governments, he said, could not intervene in the internal affairs of the Philippines, such as supporting moves to amend the Constitution, but could only hope that Filipinos make the right choices.

President Arroyo is pushing for amendments to the Constitution, particularly a shift to a parliamentary form of government to eradicate what she calls a "degenerated political system."

She said the country’s current US-style presidential form of government has been obstructing the country’s economic and social growth.

"We don’t want to get inside quarrels and different minds, this is not our business," Filoni said.

"I think that progress of the Filipino people is not the task of the diplomatic corps... We have to respect what the government is choosing to do, what Congress wants to do. We have to respect the will of the Filipino people," he said.

The President is expected to sign the bill abolishing the death penalty this week after Congress expedited its passage before adjourning last week. — With Jerry Botial