Persuasive Speech in NGEC 5 (Purposive Communication) Mark Marbin L.

Montellano
Course Outcome 1 Section Aldebaran
Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific September 23, 2019

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Death Penalty? A big NO

Death penalty in the Philippines is legal way back during Marcos’ regime. There were
recorded criminals which were executed across the country during that time. It was abolished
under former President Corry Aquino’s tenure dated back 1987 because of its non-˗conformity’s
effect; the fact that it doesn’t deter crimes. In 1993, it was reinstated, amended the process from
electric chair to lethal injection and was passed into law, thereafter was legalized. However, in
2006, former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has again but completely abolished the capital
punishment or the death penalty under Republic Act 9346 “An Act Prohibiting the Imposition of
the Death Penalty.” The punishment was changed to lifetime imprisonment or Reclusion
Perpetua.
For so long years, I used to favor the death penalty. In my younger ages, I thought people
who committed dreadful crimes deserved to die at the hands of the Government. Every time I
see any heinous crimes in our television, I say “Patayin na yan, ‘ung biktima nga pinatay niya’
ang buhay niya pa kaya” and some more secret harsh words. Just my brain cells thought of slicing
him open and make him bleed–that sort of mindset. Yet it was changed. I can’t exactly remember
when I switched sides. Probably that was the time when I researched and discovered about
Dondon Lanuza, where he reached out to a certain non-profit organization, like the Blas F. Ople
Policy Center. I was so saddened when I read the certain article because he needed to raise
millions of moneys in order to prevent his own execution in Saudi Arabia. Well in fact, he was not
guilty. Just imagine how he crammed, no people to speak on, no relatives to defend, just to
collect millions of moneys and beg not to end his life.
Conceivably, criminals have done hideous crimes in their life but it doesn’t mean they
don’t have the right to live. Reimposing death penalty here in the Philippines will not end or
decrease the crime rates like probably be happening right now in other country. Death Penalty
should not be completely reimposed in our society owing to the fact that it will not decrease crime
rates, costs a lot of money and puts innocent lives at risk.
The first and foremost reason why some people wanted to approve death penalty is to
decrease the crime rates of their country. If it is reimplemented by the government, the society
would feel afraid to commit a crime thus stopping them from doing malicious acts that can harm
Persuasive Speech in NGEC 5 (Purposive Communication) Mark Marbin L. Montellano
Course Outcome 1 Section Aldebaran
Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific September 23, 2019

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or end someone’s life. However, there is no evidence that posits the use of the death penalty as
being causal to a reduction in crime. According to DPIC or the Death Penalty Information Center,
a 2007 survey after the Death Penalty was abolished in the Philippines in 2006, the most leading
criminologists in the country from found that the overwhelming majority did not believe that the
death penalty is a proven deterrent to homicide.
Second reason why death penalty must not be reimposed is that it costs a lot of money.
The cost of the death penalty as opposed to a life sentence without bail is exponential. Due to
the extra measures taken in judicial proceedings, lawyer fees, extended trials, and expert
witnesses, costs end up being higher. According to Manila Times (2017), under former President
Fidel Ramos’ times, there were also a lot of cases on capital punishment. Capital punishment that
time is in the process of lethal injection. In fact, a single lethal injection would cost 875,000 pesos.
Obviously, one case would be at approximately 2.5 million pesos if processed through death
penalty. These include procedure on laws, trails and fees to lawyers.
And the last reason is, it puts innocent people’s lives at risk. The death penalty alone
imposes an irrevocable sentence. Once an inmate is executed, nothing can be done to make
amends if a mistake has been made. According to Commission On Human Rights (CHR) Of The
Philippines (2007), there is considerable evidence that many mistakes have been made in
sentencing people to death. Since 1973, at least 121 people have been released from death row
after evidence of their innocence emerged. During the same period of time, over 982 people have
been executed. Thus, for every eight people executed, we have found one person on death row
who never should have been convicted. These statistics represent an intolerable risk of executing
the innocent.
Right now, president Rodrigo Duterte is planning to return back the said capital
punishment. In fact, it was already initiated last 2017. It wasn’t just approved, but to assure you
people, the paper is still airborne, hiding. Everyone’s just waiting for that ‘paper’ to be approved.
Recently, the House of Representatives has once again held a discussion on viewpoints regarding
the reinstating of death penalty in our country. Perhaps, the person who has the power is still
planning to restore it. Who knows? But is it right and just? A big no, owing to the fact that it
doesn’t decrease crime rates, costs a lot of money and puts innocent lives at risk.