Philippines: Thousands in march against death penalty

On Friday, 19 May, the 'March for Life' a caravan of pilgrims who left from Midanao on May 6, along a route that crossed the entire archipelago, reached Manila, to say "no" to the death penalty.

Fr Edwin Gariguez, executive secretary of the 'National Secretariat for Social Action, of the Philippines Bishops Conference, took part in the march, together with many priests and religious faithful, members of civil society organizations.

The marchers will present a petition to the Philippine Senate on May 24, inviting senators to reject the death penalty, a measure promoted by President Rodrigo Duterte and approved two months ago.

"The death penalty will only punish the poor, who cannot afford lawyers, and many innocents", says the text of the petition. It notes that "capital punishment is illegal as it would violate the existing international treaties, of which the Philippine Government is a signatory."

The adoption of capital punishment, it says, will also have economic repercussions, since "the European Union will impose a tax on 6,000 products imported from the Philippines", especially agricultural and fishery products.

"Let us pray for our senators to decide on the basis of conscience and reason by rejecting the death penalty."

The marchers will join thousands of people for a Mass presided by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila today, 21 May.

"The use of the death penalty should be ruled out as an instrument in the fight against crime, and should be replaced by alternative measures", the cardinal said.

"All crimes violate life, but (we must respond) without resorting to measures that also violate life, like capital punishment", said Tagle. "With personal and collective study, prayer, discernment and action, we hope to be a people that promote a culture of life", he said.