Death penalty not solution to corruption -- CHR
Death penalty by firing squad for public officials convicted of corruption will not eradicate corruption in the country, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said.
Instead, the CHR proposed a more holistic solution that is rooted in human rights.
The CHR's statement was issued after House Bill No. 11211, the proposed Death Penalty for Corruption Act, was filed by Zamboanga City 1st District Rep. Khymer Adan Olaso.
While the intention of the proposed law is to scare public officials into shunning corruption, the CHR believes it is not an effective solution.
"CHR affirms that corruption is most effectively addressed through institutional reforms, consistent law enforcement, and robust transparency and accountability mechanisms, rather than extreme punitive measures like the death penalty," the CHR said.
"Such cruel punishment does not address the problem; instead, it obscures the need for systemic reforms and misdirects focus from preventative measures, such as strengthening accountability mechanisms and governance systems," it pointed out.
It stressed that the focus should be on the strict implementation of existing anti-corruption laws, enhancing scrutiny of public officials' financial assets and transactions, and advancing full disclosure policies.
"These measures, coupled with vigilant monitoring and public participation, can build a culture of integrity and accountability in governance," the CHR explained.
At the same time, the CHR said that Filipino voters should be better educated so that they can make informed decisions regarding public officials.
"Electing leaders of integrity fosters governance that prioritizes public welfare over personal gain. In combating corruption, a holistic approach rooted in human rights, good governance, and public empowerment remains the most effective path forward," it said.
The CHR also reminded House leaders that the death penalty is prohibited under the 1987 Philippine Constitution, and its reimposition was officially abolished in 2006.
The Philippines is even one of the signatories to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which completely and perpetually banned the imposition of the death penalty in the country, it added.