By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz
A lawmaker together with the International Commission Against Death Penalty (ICPD) on Tuesday called on all states to take action to end capital punishment worlwide.
Former president and now Lakas Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of Pampanga, in a manifesto with members of ICPD, said that despite the abolition of death penalty in 160 states around the world 2,460 were sentenced to death and over 19,000 persons are under imminent threat of being executed.
The lawmaker said that the death penalty represents a failed practice as it does not effectively deter crime but further marginalizes those who are poor and powerless because of all too often denied access to adequate legal defense.
Image credits: AP
1 comment
Death penalty defers crimes by: 1) there is no chance for the executed murderer to kill again; Death penalty will save future murder victims. and 2) it will frighten those with criminal intent to commit heinous crimes. Compare this if killing a person will only be punishable by 20+ ears (with free food and lodging and some medical care) to execution. A person who has intent to kill wont think very seriously of his actions if he knows he the punishment is light.