Catholic schools unite vs death penalty

MANILA, Philippines -  The Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) is enlisting the aid of students of their 171 member schools to post their statements against the death penalty on their Facebook pages.

This came after the House of Representatives on Tuesday passed on final reading the bill reimposing capital punishment in the country. But the measure still needs the approval of the Senate for it to become law.

Fr. Atilano Fajardo, chairman of the advocacy committee of CEAP-National Capital Region, yesterday sent a letter to all the heads of their member schools requesting their students to help bring to social media the campaign against the death penalty.

In a statement, Fajardo said he is hoping that students will support the cause and post on their Facebook pages the fifth commandment of God, “Huwag Kang Papatay” (Thou Shall Not Kill), the link of which is http://tinyurl.com/ceapncrfb.

“Storm heaven and prayer warrior that we may overcome the difficulties and challenges pointed to in the statement,” he added.

CEAP criticized the reimposition of the death penalty, saying it is being done under the pretention that it would solve the drug problem in the country. 

Meanwhile, celebrity couple Mayor Richard Gomez and Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez of Ormoc City support the reimposition of the death penalty.

Rep. Gomez said while she is a prayerful person, “I thought long and hard about it. Voting yes gave me the most peace. I like knowing that there is capital punishment for the evil ones.”

Mayor Gomez supports his wife’s vote, saying “it is just right to have a death penalty, especially for drug lords, including policemen who coddle and protect drug lords.”