Presidential aspirant and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso said he is against the death penalty.
During the DZBB “Ikaw Na Ba” presidential interview on Wednesday, Feb. 2, Domagoso was asked about his stance on the death penalty.
“Siguro matanong natin sa ating sarili ito kung nasagot natin in a positive way, baka pwede nyo na pag-isipan ‘yan: ‘Ilan ang nakakulong ngayon na tunay na walang kasalanan’ (Let’s first ask ourselves if we can answer this question in a positive way, then we can think about it : ‘How many of the prisoners are innocent’)? ” asked Domagoso.
According to Domagoso, the death penalty is cruel as it affects wrongly-sentenced prisoners.
“Yung ika’y pagkaitan ng isang araw na laya, napakasaklap, mano pa ika’y pagkaitan ng mamuhay o mabuhay dala ng pagkakamali ng pagsesentensya, pagsisiyasat, pagaakusa sa iyo (Even one day of deprivation of freedom is cruel. How can one deprive the right to live to those who are wrongly sentenced?)” he said.
“Sa akin, ang buhay ay buhay. Ang bawat buhay ay mahalaga. Sanggol sa sinapupunan, kriminal, tao, normal, maayos, matino, mahirap, middle-class, mayaman, pantay-pantay ang halaga ng buhay (To me, life is life. All lives are important. Babies who are still in their mother's womb, criminals, normal people, poor, middle-class, wealthy, they are all equal),” he added.
Domagoso said his priority, instead of the death penalty, would be the basic needs of citizens including food security, employment, and pandemic response.
“Dyan sa usapin na ‘yan, no to death penalty (no to the subject of death penalty),” Domagoso said.