Pubdate: Sat, 05 Jul 2003
Source: Sun.Star Cebu (Philippines)
Copyright: 2003 Sun.Star
Contact:  http://www.sunstar.com.ph/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1690
Author: Bobby G. Nalzaro

NALZARO: EXECUTE DRUG CONVICTS

IN view of the government's renewed campaign against illegal drugs, there 
is a strong clamor from various sectors, especially from anti-crime groups 
and law enforcement agencies, to resume the execution of drug convicts now 
in death row. I am supporting this move.

I am even supporting suggestions to lace confiscated drugs with poison just 
to stop the practice of unscrupulous law enforcers to recycle them. Police 
officials have admitted this hanky-panky is rampant among law enforcement 
units.

We can no longer trust anybody nowadays. The narcotics trade has already 
infiltrated the five pillars of the criminal justice system. The refusal of 
the people in the community to report the illegal drug trade to law 
enforcement agents is already a sign that the basic foundation of our 
justice system has weakened.

Either some people have benefited from the drug trade or their concern now 
is more on their safety and protection. As Cebuanos would say, piyait must 
die. The "people power" staged by some residents in Pasil to protect a gay 
pusher arrested by law enforcers during a raid is not a good indication of 
the participation of the community in government's effort to eliminate the 
drug menace.

The death penalty law is still in effect, so why won't the Arroyo 
administration implement this to the fullest and order the execution of 
convicted drug lords now in the death row of the New Bilibid Prison? I 
don't buy the President's justification that implementing death penalty at 
this point would be divisive and will affect the anti-drug campaign.

According to the President's spokesman, it might not be timely to spark 
extended debates on the death penalty while government is trying to unite 
the nation behind the war against drugs. But what division is he talking 
about? It is only Catholic Church leaders who are vocal against the 
re-imposition of the death penalty. Majority of the people, and even many 
ordinary Catholics, are supporting its implementation.

President Arroyo is still undecided on the death penalty issue. But it is 
clear Church leaders have influenced her. Or perhaps she just does not want 
to jeopardize her political ambition in 2004.

Let us no longer debate on whether or not death penalty deters criminality. 
When then president Ferdinand Marcos ordered the execution of a Chinese 
drug lord by firing squad, the supply of drugs in the country at that time 
drastically reduced.

Now, even convicted drug lords languishing in various jails and at the New 
Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa can still manage to do their illegal business 
in cahoots with corrupt jail officials. Just recently, a drug laboratory 
was discovered inside the maximum-security compound of the New Bilibid 
Prison. Reports said that those behind its operation were convicted Chinese 
drug lords. As they say, it is easy to buy illegal drugs inside the jail 
than outside.

Why is this happening? This is because of our corrupt system. So the better 
alternative is to execute drug convicts in death row before they can do 
more harm to our society.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens