Death Penalty re-imposition - Bro. Eddie Villanueva

“Bro. Eddie wants to restore death penalty” according to ABS-CBN news today, February 16, 2010.

Eddie Villanueva expressed his opinion on this at the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) forum held last Monday.

I would just like to comment on a few things that Villanueva said regarding the issue.

First, Villanueva said in the forum that it is “biblical”. I wish that he could have elaborated on that. Of course, the Bible is quite strict on facing issues. Death penalty is there in the Old Testament. Ex-communication from the Church is there in the New Testament. Ananias and Sapphira died in Acts 4 when they lied that they have given everything from the sales of their land to the apostles when in fact, they withheld a portion for themselves. In other words, corruption.

However, it could have been clearer if he explained a bit since the Catholic Church in the Philippines would criticize this statement. Is it for the government – or any person – to say if a criminal should die or not? On top of that, is it applicable to a government with a faulty justice system?

Second, what raised my eyebrow is his statement that death penalty would be for those who committed heinous crimes, “committed by moneyed people, not by poor people.”

Moneyed people? Poor people?

Why should there be discrimination against “moneyed people?” All people are the same. Poverty is not an excuse to commit crime. I hate giving special attention to “poor people” because it’s like giving them the excuses to do things that they shouldn’t do.

They rob because they’re poor; they kidnap because they’re poor; they abuse and extort money from foreigners and “moneyed” people in tourist spots and even in tiangges. Many even abuse their “moneyed” relatives by continually asking for provisions while they, themselves are bums.

I’m not saying all poor people are like that because I believe that many are also working their butts off all their lives.

All I’m saying is that there should not be a difference. The government should not be promoting the gap further for rich and poor people by drawing lines. The law should be blind and sees no gender, no class, no nationality, and no money.

source: http://ph.news.yahoo.com/abs/20100215/tph-bro-eddie-wants-to-restore-death-pen-85c5a6c.html