Cruz echoes opposition vs death penalty, cites ‘dysfunctional’ justice system

MANILA, Philippines - Even if the death penalty were revived now, the country's dysfunctional justice system accommodating criminals "above the law" will render it a tool for injustice, a senior Catholic bishop said Wednesday. Lingayen-Dagupan archbishop Oscar Cruz said maintained the Catholic Church's position opposing the revival of the death penalty, saying its imposition will be unfair because it will be used only to kill "small fry" but not touch the big-time criminals. "As no government is the author of human life, no human life may be taken by any government. Furthermore, just as no human law can bring about human life, this may neither be taken away by any law of man," Cruz wrote in his web log. "Finally, death penalty is the summit of injustice when a justice system is dysfunctional. And this is the reality when certain dynasties, certain families and many individuals live and act above the law of the land, when the demands of justice are neutralized by the tenure of power, the possession of wealth," he added. Cruz, a vocal critic of Malacañang, reiterated it would be better if the country first achieves a functional justice system, noting that the Philippine justice system "has become progressively dysfunctional such that the high and the mighty are above the law." In contrast, the poor and the helpless are the victims of law as justice has become selective in its relevance and application, Cruz said. "That is why as a matter of course, those perpetrate and perpetuate huge crude graft and uncouth corrupt practices in the national level, those who engage in smuggling in staggering proportion, those who make enormous money from the calamity of others such as that caused by natural disaster—all these are untouchable by law and its enforcers as they specifically remain beyond the reach of justice," Cruz said. "The ongoing shouts for the re-imposition of death penalty in the land do not have these large-scale assassins and murderers in mind. It appears that on account of a long selective observance of the law and discriminatory application of justice in the country, even a good number of the general Filipino public could also have an already dysfunctional understanding of justice. Death for those who shoot and kill some individuals. But never mind those who tightly strangle and eventually kill millions of Filipinos," he added. - GMANews.TV