D I G G E R S' C O R N E R

Ruler Repercussion

By Ferlina Mae G. Gasmido

The revival of death penalty is very likely to return under the present administration following the brutal slay of the 16-year old girl in Cebu. Despite the risks among people even in daylight and having CCTV cameras on the streets, death penalty is never a solution. Our justice system is flawed and still in favor with the nobles. The misjudgments are highly possible.

Death Penalty: The Conviction of the Innocent People

According to the Article III Section 19 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution of the Bill of Rights, “Excessive fines shall not be imposed, nor cruel, degrading or inhuman punishment inflicted. Neither shall the death penalty be imposed, unless, for compelling reasons involving heinous crimes, the Congress hereafter provides for it. Any death penalty already imposed shall be reduced to reclusion perpetua.’

However, in early Philippine society, major crimes were punishable by death. Firing squad and garrote are the means of punishment. But, before the abolishment of death penalty in 2006, 1200 prisoners are in death row believing that the Philippines had the world’s second-largest population of death row prisoners.

This penalty doesn’t affect people to commit such brutal crimes. Some studies show that no country has lessened the criminalities by assessing death punishment. According to New York Times, European non-death penalty nations have three times lesser number of homicides than the United States in 2000. Also, most of the criminals do not think the consequences of their corresponding actions. Attorney Diane Marshall who happened to have a convicted murderer once said to her, “You can tell people you’re going to boil [them] in hot oil, but it won’t deter crime, because criminals don’t think they’re going to get caught."

Moreover, the tendency of misjudgment among the defendant since the justice system of Philippine is flawed. Poor defendants don’t have enough money to get a good lawyer and because of this, in some cases, defendants who were executed were later found out that they were innocent. Death penalty requires a lot of money for trials and since the Philippines is a third world country, the court decision could have been faster that it should be in order for the convicted person to be executed without further trials.

George Junius Stinney Jr, the youngest American to be sentenced to death and executed at the age of 14, was wrongfully convicted because of the death of two young girls at South Carolina.

Based on H.S Newman, who was the arresting officer, “I arrested a boy by the named of George Stinney. He then made a confession and told me where to find a piece of iron about 15 inches were [sic] he said he put it in a ditch about six feet from the bicycle.” No statement was found.

This cruel punishment can happen to anyone if the government still insists to assess this kind of punishment. The people should be aware on what might be the results of this deed. The life without parole is bearable. The life in jail is no joke for prisoners. This could be the alternative as mentioned in the 1987 Philippine Constitution.

By Xyra Mae A. Desalisa

K-ritic's Corner

Toxic Filipino Culture: Western is Okay but Korean Culture is not

Korean Culture nowadays is already paving the way to be known all around the world and the Philippines is not an exception. In an article written by Irish Valdez entitled “7 Problems of a Filipino K-pop Fan,” she stated that the Philippines is a country that is heavily influenced by the western culture which makes it difficult for some to accept newly culture that emerged in the country. As Korean Culture is now dominating the Philippines, it resulted to different reaction from Filipinos; some were happy but some were not.

By Tricia Mae G. Suazo

Defined by Balance: Unpaid fees equate to zero grade

Joint Memorandum No. 02 Series of 2019 states that students who will fail to settle their payment obligations after 30 days of the execution of promissory notes shall earn zero grade for preliminary term beginning second semester of Academic Year 2018-2019. Interpreting the content of the memorandum, it also says that the university does

By Jenica M. Villanueva

Handcuffed Childhood

Freedom is something that can be associated with childhood. Children embodies freedom in saying and doing things because of the limited knowledge that they possess. However, with the proposed lowering of the criminal liability age, there is a threat for the freedom that children hold. Will children still be outside playing games? Or will they be inside the jail, paying the price of the crime they should not be the ones to pay?

By Sheila M. Matibag

The Unending Pointing of Fingers among Officials

The Philippine Government is indeed undergoing various crises causing unresponsiveness to the needs of people. Saddening, people who are set to work in the position chose to be blind and deaf to the country’s demand. In connection to this, although Philippines is facing pending cases, issues and solutions, members of the government still have time in pointing fingers to their fellow government officials.