Del Mar opposes death penalty bill
Del Mar was among the lawmakers who stood up against the House Bill 4727 when it was presented for debate in the House of Representatives last February 8.
Del Mar, quoting the message of Pope Francis during the meeting of the members of the world coalition against the death penalty in Oslo, Norway, said that, "the death penalty is unacceptable, however grave the crime of the convicted person. It is an offense to the inviolability of life and to the dignity of the human person. It likewise contradicts God's plan for individuals and society, and his merciful justice. Nor is it consonant with any just purpose of punishment. It does not render justice to victims, but instead fosters vengeance. The commandment 'Thou shall not kill' has absolute value and applies both to the innocent and to the guilty."
He said that HB 4727 is unconstitutional for lack "of compelling reasons involving heinous crimes" and that death penalty is not a deterrent against crime.
"A more compelling deterrent would be a more efficient Justice System, starting from police methods and equipment to catch and prosecute crime suspects to more competent prosecutors and honest judges, coupled with a more speedy disposition of cases," he said.
According to del Mar, death penalty could punish the innocent and error is irreversible and it is biased against the poor.
"Once an innocent person is put to death, is it not an act that can never be reversed? Bad enough if an innocent person is jailed but at least
he is still alive when the wrong is corrected," the pro-life legislator said.
He said that death penalty is barbaric, antiquated and regressive and rejected by 105 countries and not practiced in the last decades by 60 more so called de facto abolitionist countries.
Del Mar said that under the proposed bill, a convict may be killed not just by lethal injection but also by hanging and firing squad - a retro to the barbaric and inhuman methods. (FREEMAN)
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