San Juan mayor, dad call for death penalty revival

MANILA, Philippines - San Juan Mayor Guia Gomez and Councilor Warren Villa said yesterday the death penalty should be revived to punish rapists, drug pushers and murderers.

In an interview with The STAR, Gomez said Congress should take another look into the reimposition of the death penalty, citing the case of 13-year-old Sheena Mae Robles, who was allegedly raped and killed by tricycle driver Peter Jucariza and jeepney barker Jeffrey Eleccion.

“There has to be a death penalty in cases like these. The death penalty must be reviewed and revived,” Gomez said.

Villa, a member of the Jesus Is Lord (JIL) church, said criminals guilty of heinous crimes such as rape, drug pushing and murder deserve death.

“It is biblical. It is in Deuteronomy. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. If you took the life of another man, you should pay for it with your life,” Villa said.

Gomez and Villa both believe that the death penalty can deter people from committing heinous crimes.