Justice chief thumbs down proposed revival of death penalty

MANILA, Philippines - Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez on Monday thumbed down proposals to revive the death penalty in the light of the gruesome RCBC bank robbery in Cabuyao and the massacre in Calamba, both in Laguna province. Gonzalez said there is no sufficient study yet that shows that the death penalty will prevent criminals from committing heinous crimes. “There has been no sufficient study which will tell us if the death penalty was really a deterrent. What is important is to make sure there is proper reinforcement. This may be better than imposing death penalty,” he said. At least two senators - Juan Miguel Zubiri and Panfilo Lacson – had said that the two crimes in Laguna warrant a thorough study on reviving the death penalty, which was abolished in June 24, 2006 by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Gonzalez said it is up to Congress if it wants to revive the death penalty. A total of 18 people – 10 in Cabuyao and eight in Calamba - were killed in the two incidents. Gonzalez described the incidents as “more than heinous” and said that if he could have his way, a shoot-to-kill order should be issued against the perpetrators of the crimes. “This is more than heinous. There should be a shoot-to-kill order against the suspects. I really don't like what happened. Those were unjustified killings. But of course, that is just my personal opinion,” he said. He added that he is yet to direct the National Bureau of Investigation, an attached agency of the DOJ, to step into the Cabuyao and the Calamba killings. But once asked, Gonzalez said the NBI can lend its resources and skill in tracking the bank robbers and killers. - GMANews.TV