Anti-death penalty marchers set to reach UST today

Anti-death penalty advocates will gather at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in Manila today to oppose the proposed revival of capital punishment in the country.

Church leaders asked the faithful to support the event and as one oppose death penalty.

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said the event is also an opportunity to call on the government to strengthen its rehabilitation program instead of reviving death penalty.

“Let us make a stand and tell the government that death penalty is not the solution to criminality or our drug problem. What we need is to rehabilitate those who committed a wrong and not punish them with death penalty,” he said over churchrun Radyo Veritas.

Earlier, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle also issued a circular letter inviting priests, religious communities and lay faithful to support the lay initiative.

“With personal and collective study, prayer, discernment and action, we hope to be a people that promote a culture of life,” he said.

Tagle also believes that the 21-day march caravan “Lakbay Buhay” is also an opportunity to find ways of fighting crimes without resorting to capital punishment.

“The march that started in Mindanao to end up in the Philippine Senate gives us an opportunity to find ways of fighting crimes, for all crimes violate life, but without resorting to measures that also violate life, like capital punishment,” he said.

It was last May 4 when the marchers started their 21-day march-caravan from Cagayan de Oro City in Mindanao and went through the cities of Cebu, Ormoc, Tacloban, Sorsogon, Legaspi City, Naga City, Gumaca, Lucena City, San Pablo City, Lipa City, and Cavite.

Today, the marchers will join the crowd at UST where the Eucharistic celebration will be held at 5 p.m.