Chinese Execution

I know that as Christians we should respect the right to life but we also have rules and laws here on earth that we should follow. In some countries, committing heinous crimes could mean death penalty. Our country has banned the death penalty with finality and there’s no chance that it’s going to be reinstated soon. The Catholic Church is so powerful that it can even dictate politicians on which laws they should pass all in the name that we’re a Christian country. Ironically, we are a Christian nation but we have the worst criminal rate statistics in the world. I think that’s because of the restrictions in our law, particularly on death penalty.

Speaking of death penalty, a Pinoy drug courier who was caught smuggling on 2008 bringing 1.5 kilograms of heroin, is schedules to be executed. Our Foreign Affairs Ministry sent several appeals to the Chinese government to halt the execution. VP Binay even wanted to personally appeal but his pleas were rejected because the Chinese Supreme court has ruled with finality.

This kind of situation has always bothered me every time there’s a Filipino executed abroad. I don’t intend to be rude to the Pinoy who claims to be a victim of the situation. On a general note, though. If a drug courier is caught in our country, chances are, he’s going to be jailed and will be faced with the maximum penalty prescribed in our laws. What is the difference then if a Filipino is caught carrying drugs outside the country? He’s supposed to face the law right? Why is it then that our government officials would go out of their way to help the alleged drug carrier? If the person committed a wrongdoing he should pay for it. The reasons why he did it should not even be dignified. Some would say that they just do it because of poverty.

Poverty should never be used as an excuse to commit crimes. I hailed from the province and have seen what poverty is but poor people in my community lived a decent and dignified life. They do not resort to illegal activities just to feed their families. I could be wrong though; there are poor people in the urban areas who completely forgot propriety because of poverty.

So going back to the execution of a Pinoy drug courier in China, our government should not intervene. There is nothing that they could do because the Chinese Supreme Court has ruled with finality the execution. The only thing that we should do is to help the family repatriate his remains.