The former leader of the “war on drugs” of President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration is not in favor of the return of the death penalty.
This is exactly what Guillermo Eleazar, who will run for the senate under the ticket of presidential and vice-presidential aspirants Sen Panfilo Lacson and Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, said.
“Unless we have a perfect system, it’s better to acquit 10 guilty persons than to make suffer or convict one innocent man. Pinakamaganda pa rin pagandahin ang criminal justice natin,” said Eleazar.
“Lagi nating nirerespeto ang buhay. I’m after maimprove ang criminal justice sa atin. Para sa atin ang mga criminal na nahuli agad, that is the best crime prevention.”
It will be recalled that 2022 bets Lacson and Sotto withdrew their support for the reinstatement of the death penalty, even though they were the ones who drafted its bills then in the Senate.
Because Lacson and Sotto changed hearts regarding the death penalty, they have received praise from the Commission on Human Rights, saying that it is not an effective way to curb crime, other than that the “sanctity” of life must be respected.
Ex-PNP chief Eleazar also opposes death penalty revival
In October, it was only when presidential aspirant Raffy Tulfo said that he had changed his mind when it came to the death penalty, something he also used to support.
In addition, Eleazar mentioned that the government would better focus on the rehabilitation, prevention, and reintegration in the community of former offenders regarding illegal drugs.
“We are guided by laws and protocols. At kung meron lapses na mangyayari kailangan panagutan ‘yun… Noong ako nag-chief PNP ako mismo nag initiate… aking sinimulan through the [Department of Justice] na maimbestigahan,” he said.
In May, the PNP under Eleazar allowed the DOJ to investigate extrajudicial killings linked to the government’s anti-drug campaign.
In response, the PNP submitted records of 53 police operations that resulted in the deaths of drug suspects.
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