Double-Edged Sword Of Justice

Death Penalty seems to be a double-edged sword, seeing as to how it is unjust towards the poor
but can be swayed by the rich. It claims to be a weapon for the victims, but can the death of a person be
called giving justice to another? How can it give justice to those who need it when it simply violates a right
that everyone is fighting for? Killing a person to attain so-called justice might as well be called revenge and
self-satisfaction.
Imposing death as a punishment is a violation of the Republic Act No. 10368, also known as Human
Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013. People fought for human rights for years and death
penalty opposes it since it is just killing as well. Murder is a grave sin, as insisted by the Catholic Church. It
implies that people who seek the death of others are no more than criminals, like the one they detest. In
addition to that, a few years ago, the Philippines put lots of criminals to death and it was only put to a stop
and was abolished during 2006, when the Catholic Church pressured Former President Gloria Macapagal-
Arroyo.
Moreover, at the Philippines’ current state, bringing death penalty would make murder look
perfectly normal. After President Rodrigo Duterte's “War on Drugs” caused more than 6,000 deaths that
includes civilians and children, the country sank to a human rights-violating abyss. It will only be deemed as
a tool for killing whoever the government wishes to erase from this world and this country's justice system
will only become worse than what it already is.
Furthermore, death penalty cannot assure that ‘real’ criminals will be executed for doing so-called
heinous crimes. There are instances where people are framed-up convicted for allegedly committing a
crime despite being innocent. Even evidence can be used to turn situations around. An example would be
Paco Larrañaga's documentary, an untold story about Larrañaga and a few acquaintances who were
claimed to be suspects of killing Marijoy and Jacqueline Chiong, sisters from a powerful family from Cebu.
They were proven innocent. However, this proves that approving death penalty in the Philippines as it
currently is, the innocent will only suffer whilst true criminals roam free.
On the other hand, there are criminals who seem to deserve the said punishment such as mass
murderers, serial killers, rapists and many more. Although, that will only make those who approve of their
deaths the same as them. Even though it might be true that people will be hesitant to commit crimes, it
cannot be guaranteed. It is easy to turn things around if you have money and connections now. It will only
be futile to keep them from committing crimes.
Indeed, death penalty is not a weapon for the poor and the abused. While it appears to be stabbing
the criminal in question, a blade seems to be pointed at the victims' throats. It has been proven throughout
the years that today's justice system in the Philippines is not at the people's side. It is manipulated by the
ones in position and those who have the means to make things go their way. Death penalty should not
even be brought up because it literally steps on the effort of those who fought for human rights. It brings
shame to people who are hanging by a thread, fighting for their life. If there is something we need to do, it
is to fix this country's justice system and the government's ways as it is unfair to its people when it is
supposed to serve them.