Acosta: I regret taking part in campaign against death penalty

In a complete turnaround in opinion, Public Attorney's Office chief Persida Acosta on Saturday said she "regretted" that she campaigned for the repeal of the law imposing death penalty in the country.

In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB on Saturday, Acosta said, "pabor na akong ibalik ang parusang bitay (I am now in favor of the re-imposition of capital punishment).

With several heinous crimes being committed, especially by those under the influence of illegal drugs, she said she realized that there are criminals who really deserve to die.

"Napag-isip-isip ko ...nagsisisi ako." Acosta said she campaigned hard for the abolition of the death penalty law, and they succeeded in 2004.

But she clarified that her complete turnaround was due to the realization that there are criminals who have committed heinous crimes who don't deserve live.

"Ang mga ito ay walang karapatang  mabuhay. At sa paggawa ng karumal-dumal na krimen, bina-violate na rin nila ang kanilang karapatang mabuhay. Para na silang mga halimaw."

She was referring to those who committed abhorrent crimes.  "Isang taon na bata ire-rape mo at papatayin, pati isang lola ni-rape ...pinapatay mo ang buong pamilya, eh, para ka nang halimaw (monster)."

She said that she agreed with some findings that majority of the heinous crimes being committed in the country was due to illegal drugs abuse.

"Wala na sa tamang pag-iisip ang mga lulong sa droga. Kasi kung tama ang pag-iisip mo, at least bilang tao, may matitira ka pang habag at awa. Pero wala na."

But she pointed out that a strong justice system is necessary to ensure that in reimposing capital punishment,  no innocent person should be sent to the death chamber. —LBG, GMA News