Vice President Leni Robredo reaffirmed her opposition to reimposing the death penalty in the country during a forum sponsored by the Catholic bishops’ conference last week.
“Ano ba ‘yung datos? Noong binalik natin yung death penalty many years ago, bumaba ba? Bumaba ba ‘yung mga nagko-commit ng krimen? Hindi. Tumaas pa nga,” said the presidential candidate.
Robredo, a former human rights lawyer, said data from around the world show that reimposing the death penalty will not lower crime rates considerably.
“Marami ‘yung pag-aaral na nagsasabi na hindi ‘yung gravity ng penalty ‘yung deterrent ng crime, kundi ‘yung certainty,” she said.
“’Yung certainty na mapaparusahan ka. So having said that, kailangan ayusin natin ‘yung ating judicial system,” added the vice president.
Robredo said the judicial system has many flaws, affecting the poor and the marginalized.
“Noong nag-abogado ako para sa mga mahihirap, and ‘yung pakiramdam talaga na napakalayo ng katarungan sa mga mahihirap ay naramdaman ko ‘yun,” Robredo said
“Pag may death penalty, ang chances na mas maraming mahihirap ‘yung mapaparusahan ng death penalty, talagang napakalaki dahil ‘yung access niya nga sa katarungan napakakaunti,” she said.
At the forum, Robredo stressed the need for judicial reforms by first seeing to it that the budget would be sufficient to have more lawyers at the Public Attorney’s Office and to entice “the best and the brightest” to join the roster.
Drawing from her experience, Robredo said they were overwhelmed with so many cases because they were undermanned.
This should not be the case if we want to achieve a justice system that is swift, efficient, and available to all, she said.
“Ano ba ‘yung mga kailangan natin sa judicial reform? Ang daming vacancies, hindi ma-fill up, kulang ‘yung budget na binibigay sa kanila,” she noted.
“Pag hindi na-fill up ‘yung vacancies, naa-affect nito ‘yung speedy trial. Napakatagal ng dispensation of justice,” Robredo added.
She also emphasized the importance of educating the public about their rights under the law so they can still defend themselves even in the absence of lawyers.
Lastly, she said that the appointment of judges and prosecutors is also vital in achieving the reforms in the judiciary that the country needs.
