Human rights 16/05/15 Philippine bishops tell Duterte not to play God - Lipa archbishop says he will offer himself to be executed in place of those the government

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Philippine bishops tell Duterte not to play God

Lipa archbishop says he will offer himself to be executed in place of those the government will hang

Philippine President-elect Rodrigo Duterte vowed on May 15 to reintroduce capital punishment and give security forces "shoot-to-kill" orders in a devastating war on crime. (Photo by AFP)

Joe Torres, Manila
Philippines

May 16, 2016

Several Philippine Catholic church leaders are tamping down the plan of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte to revive the death penalty once he assumes office on June 30.

"Only God has power over life. God gives life and God takes life. No one should play God," said Bishop Ruperto Santos of Balanga.

The prelate, who heads the Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, said life is sacred and should be "promoted, respected, and protected."

In his first press conference since election day, Duterte said he will ask Congress to pass a law that will restore the death penalty for certain crimes.

"What I would do is to urge Congress to restore the death penalty by hanging," said Duterte.

He said death by hanging will instill fear among criminals and is "virtually painless (because) once the spine is ripped off inside it's over, just like putting off a light."

The former mayor of Davao, who has been dubbed "The Punisher" for his tough stance on crime, said criminals involved in illegal drugs, gun-for-hire syndicates, and those who commit "heinous crimes" will have to face the death sentence.

The Catholic Church has been against reviving capital punishment.

Bishop Santos said instead of reviving the death penalty, Duterte should instead initiate prison reforms and review the country's justice system.

Archbishop Ramon Arguelles of Lipa said he will volunteer himself to be executed in place of those the government will hang.

"Didn't Christ do that?" Archbishop Arguelles asked, adding that if the new administration revives capital punishment "Catholic Philippines will be merciless in the Year of Mercy."

The Philippines placed a moratorium on capital punishment in 2001 and five years later downgraded the sentences of 1,230 death-row inmates to life imprisonment in what Amnesty International described as the "largest ever commutation of death sentences."