Atienza to Cebuanos: Oppose death penalty

CEBU, Philippines - BUHAY Partylist Representative Lito Atienza Jr. is urging Cebuanos to convince their congressmen to oppose the revival of the death penalty in the country.

"That's how democracy should work. People should communicate to the representatives. The congressman is your representative," Atienza said during the Summit for Life at the Cebu City Hall yesterday.

Atienza said the death penalty will not solve the drug problem or any problem of the country for that matter. "It would only aggravate the situation," he said.

Atienza said even in countries like Colombia and Mexico where killings are used to fight the drug problem, the problem is far from being solved.

"It will only create more violence and more violent orientation for everybody," he said.

The United Nations, for one, has said that the death penalty will not be an effective way of fighting the drug problem.

Instead of pushing for the death penalty, Atienza said the government should focus its attention on addressing corruption in the justice system and the ineffectiveness of the Philippine National Police.

He said the police force should be reformed in light of the abuses committed by certain policemen last year like the killing of Korean businessman Jee Ick Jook in Camp Crame.

"We have to act now rather than wait for more problems to arise," Atienza said.

"In Manila, if you are from Sampaloc, chances are you will get an assignment in your community where you are known and you'll be very careful not to violate your office," he said.

Atienza also urges PNP Director General Ronald dela Rosa to resign and give his position to other more able generals for dela Rosa's alleged failure to solve the thousands of murder cases in the country.

"Pabigat na siya sa gobyerno ng presidente, eh," Atienza said.

President Rodrigo Duterte would find it hard to defend the killing of Jee "right beside the house of dela Rosa," he said.

Catholics should defend their faith, Atienza said.

"Hindi yung tahimik tayo, sakay lang tayo nang sakay. Minsan mali, mali nga ang ating pangulo, palakpak tayo ng palakpak."

The people, in general, he said, should not keep silent on extra-judicial killings and the slaughter of the poor in communities in the country, Atienza said. "Magsalita tayo diyan, hindi pwedeng tahimik tayo diyan." — Vania Mae Lim (FREEMAN)