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Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Arroyo hailed, jeered in Negros on commutation of death penalty
By Erwin Ambo S. Delilan
THE intention is noble but not all in Negros Occidental favored the recent decision of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to commute the penalties of 1,205 convicts at the New Bilibid Prison from death sentences to only a life imprisonment.
A death sentence carries death by lethal injection while a life sentence entails an imprisonment ranging from 20 to 40 years.
Governor Joseph Marañon believes that each commutation should be qualified.
"Although, it is President Arroyo's prerogative to issue such order, however, she should have categorized the commutation of the sentence basing on the gravity of crimes committed by every convict," he said.
For him, the families of the victims of heinous crimes may not be too happy with the President's decision.
The same sentiment was aired by Commission on Human Rights (CHR)-Negros Occidental chief Romeo Baldevarona.
Though the President said if God can forgive the sinners, how can she not also do such act as she is only a human being.
But for Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia, the death penalty should be continued.
"It will serve as a deterrent for the commission of heinous crimes in the society," Leonardia stressed
This was echoed by Bacolod City Police Office Director Pedro Merced.
In Manila, the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) also appealed to President Arroyo not to proceed with this "political and religious consideration".
In his message to the President, VACC chair Dante Jimenez said the order was a sweeping commutation.
He also described it as shocking and condemnable.
(April 18, 2006 issue)
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