|
|---|
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Posted by
st
at
3:41 AM
The execution of the three (3) Filipinos accused of drug smuggling in China will push through tomorrow, March 30, 2011. The Filipinos involved are: Ramon Credo, 42, Elizabeth Batain, 38, and Sally Villanueva, 32. Credo and Villanueva will be executed at 9:40 tomorrow morning at Xianmen, while Batain’s execution will take place in Shenzhen.
As much as I would like not to dwell on this topic, this has been the subject of most conversations I’ve had with my friends. And being a fellow Filipino, it’s hard for me to say that the accused are guilty and that they deserve to be punished.
Don’t get me wrong, I do believe that the accused are guilty of drug possession and smuggling, as they have said it themselves, but I don’t think that sanctioning them to death penalty is the best form of punishment. What they did may be wrong, but it’s not as worse as killing someone or committing murder. Yes, they are guilty, they should be punished, but killing them should not be an option.
Death penalty should NEVER be an option.
I, for one, am against the death penalty. I think it’s a very horrendous crime that deprives a person of his/her right as a human being. For someone to be put under this kind of punishment is beyond my belief, I’d commit suicide instead. But come to think of it, my blood will be in their hands, not mine. But still, taking someone’s life away for doing something illegal is still not the right thing to do. God gave us our lives, not the government. So wouldn’t it be fair if we let God, Himself, take our lives away from us and not just some law that says death penalty is legal and is not considered as murder?
You see, I really don’t get the essence of it. Sure, people will say, “Death penalty’s aim is not to take the lives of people. This serves as a warning only to those who are attempting to commit crimes, which may somehow affect the lives and dignity of others.” Right. I agree with that, but what if that was your husband, or your mother on the death row? Would you still be able to say the same? Will you still uphold your belief and values and say, “My brother committed a crime! Kill him!” I don’t think so.
You say killing a person is illegal. Logically speaking, putting a prisoner under death penalty would mean killing him/her, ergo: murder. I don’t care if that’s lethal injection. Don’t give me that “but s/he wouldn’t feel a thing” excuse, that’s downright preposterous and pathetic! Just because those people have committed a crime doesn’t mean they deserve to die. Does drug smuggling makes them much less of a person? Does that degrade their level? Their status? Can you actually say, “Oh, they're not human beings anymore because they did something bad. They’re animals and they deserve to die!” Can you honestly say that? Does being a bad person makes you susceptible to things like death penalty? Well if that’s the case then majority of the population in this world should probably be dead by now.
My point is, I hope the Chinese government or prosecutors, or whatever you call them be humane enough to reconsider their judgment and reduce their sentence to reclusion perpetua instead. Prolong their life. And let them suffer longer? Yes. Sure, they will suffer, their families will suffer; but it’s better to know that, at least, their loved ones are very much alive despite being imprisoned in a different country. I think that’s better than having them killed for a mistake they once made.
I believe I’ve said too much regarding this topic.
Let this issue be a warning, not only to Filipinos, but to anyone who are attempting to commit crimes. Yes, we are well aware of how hard life is, but that is not enough excuse to break the law. Know the consequences of your actions before doing it. You’ll never really know, but it might save your life.
To the Chinese government, we are begging you to reduce your penalty to reclusion perpetua. Think of all the families that will suffer if you take away the lives of their loved ones. Think of the kids that will be abandoned at such a young age. Think of how many lives will suffer should you wish take three lives away. As a Filipino, let me apologize for what they did. We Filipinos are saddened and sorry that it has to end this way. We know your government knows better, and I believe you’ll find it in your heart of hearts to forgive them. Once again, we humbly apologize and we are truly hoping for your consideration.
And with that, I rest my case.
As much as I would like not to dwell on this topic, this has been the subject of most conversations I’ve had with my friends. And being a fellow Filipino, it’s hard for me to say that the accused are guilty and that they deserve to be punished.
Don’t get me wrong, I do believe that the accused are guilty of drug possession and smuggling, as they have said it themselves, but I don’t think that sanctioning them to death penalty is the best form of punishment. What they did may be wrong, but it’s not as worse as killing someone or committing murder. Yes, they are guilty, they should be punished, but killing them should not be an option.
Death penalty should NEVER be an option.
I, for one, am against the death penalty. I think it’s a very horrendous crime that deprives a person of his/her right as a human being. For someone to be put under this kind of punishment is beyond my belief, I’d commit suicide instead. But come to think of it, my blood will be in their hands, not mine. But still, taking someone’s life away for doing something illegal is still not the right thing to do. God gave us our lives, not the government. So wouldn’t it be fair if we let God, Himself, take our lives away from us and not just some law that says death penalty is legal and is not considered as murder?
You see, I really don’t get the essence of it. Sure, people will say, “Death penalty’s aim is not to take the lives of people. This serves as a warning only to those who are attempting to commit crimes, which may somehow affect the lives and dignity of others.” Right. I agree with that, but what if that was your husband, or your mother on the death row? Would you still be able to say the same? Will you still uphold your belief and values and say, “My brother committed a crime! Kill him!” I don’t think so.
You say killing a person is illegal. Logically speaking, putting a prisoner under death penalty would mean killing him/her, ergo: murder. I don’t care if that’s lethal injection. Don’t give me that “but s/he wouldn’t feel a thing” excuse, that’s downright preposterous and pathetic! Just because those people have committed a crime doesn’t mean they deserve to die. Does drug smuggling makes them much less of a person? Does that degrade their level? Their status? Can you actually say, “Oh, they're not human beings anymore because they did something bad. They’re animals and they deserve to die!” Can you honestly say that? Does being a bad person makes you susceptible to things like death penalty? Well if that’s the case then majority of the population in this world should probably be dead by now.
My point is, I hope the Chinese government or prosecutors, or whatever you call them be humane enough to reconsider their judgment and reduce their sentence to reclusion perpetua instead. Prolong their life. And let them suffer longer? Yes. Sure, they will suffer, their families will suffer; but it’s better to know that, at least, their loved ones are very much alive despite being imprisoned in a different country. I think that’s better than having them killed for a mistake they once made.
I believe I’ve said too much regarding this topic.
Let this issue be a warning, not only to Filipinos, but to anyone who are attempting to commit crimes. Yes, we are well aware of how hard life is, but that is not enough excuse to break the law. Know the consequences of your actions before doing it. You’ll never really know, but it might save your life.
To the Chinese government, we are begging you to reduce your penalty to reclusion perpetua. Think of all the families that will suffer if you take away the lives of their loved ones. Think of the kids that will be abandoned at such a young age. Think of how many lives will suffer should you wish take three lives away. As a Filipino, let me apologize for what they did. We Filipinos are saddened and sorry that it has to end this way. We know your government knows better, and I believe you’ll find it in your heart of hearts to forgive them. Once again, we humbly apologize and we are truly hoping for your consideration.
And with that, I rest my case.
-XOXO-
0 Comments:
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
