By BEN R. ROSARIO
The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) yesterday revealed it will back the move to amend the 1987 Constitution but not as a demonstration of support for President Arroyo, who is pushing for the repeal of the Dealth Penalty Law which is considered anathema to the VACC cause.
VACC president Martin Diño sees hope in reviving the death penalty should Arroyo and anti-death penalty solons in Congress succeed in repeating Republic Act (RA) 7659 that restored the death sentence on heinous crimes.
"There is a big chance that federal states will make moves to impose the death sentence. That’s the best chance we have in battling crime in this country,’’ Dino told reporters during the Usaping Balita Media Forum at Serye Café in Quezon City.
According to Diño, Charter amendments being proposed by the Arroyo government are moving towards federalism, thus, this would give federal states to be created the independence to re-impose the capital punishment.
He noted that in the United States, certain states under the federal system impose the death sentence while others do not.
Nevertheless, Diño said anti-crime crusaders in the country will be joining the VACC in lobbying Congress to reject Arroyo’s decision to certify the anti-death penalty law an urgent administration bill.
"We appeal to our legislators not to be carried away by the current hysteria against the death penalty that has divided our nation,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, House Deputy Majority Leader Edcel C. Lagman and Rep. Rodito T. Albano III predicted the immediate passage of the bill abolishing the capital punishment following Arroyo’s decision to certify the measure as urgent.
"The issue is a matter of moral belief, it should transcend politics,’’ said Albano.
The Isabela lawmaker urged critics of the Arroyo government to stop doubting her decision to call for the abolition of the death penalty.
He stressed that the President’s decision on the controversial issue "is a vindication for pro-life lawmakers who have been insisting since the very beginning that the death sentence is not a deterrent to heinous crimes.’’
Lagman said all doubts have been quashed on Arroyo’s real objective in commuting the death sentences of dozens of convicts on Death Row.
According to him, the presidential certification "complimented the President’s Easter Sunday commutation of death sentences where the convictions had become final.’’
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