Priests and mothers of death-row inmates march against the death penalty
Manila (AsiaNews) Father Robert Reyes, an active campaigner against the death penalty and for respecting of life, joined the mothers of some death-row inmates in demanding that the government show greater consideration for human life and "carry the cross of the Filipino nation and people." A bamboo cross, symbolising the marchers' demand, followed them as they tried to make their way along their route, which was however blocked by units of the riot police.
The protest action was organised to coincide with President Arroyo's State of the Nation speech before the 13th Congress and the beginning of joint US-Filipino exercises involving US Army Special Forces and 200 Filipino infantrymen and marines in the town of Carmen, on Mindanao Island. The protesters' rallying point was the US Embassy in Manila.
"Today, we run with the Angels of Life and Peace," Father Reyes told AsiaNews. "We thank the President for saving the life of hostage Angelo de la Cruz, but the executions scheduled for August 7 and 20, and the military training exercises planned for Mindanao are also threats to human life.
"Hunger, disease, and ignorance remain the sad lot of the poor, who have all but lost their trust in empty government rhetoric. Today, as the President gives her State of the Nation speech, we dare listen to it with keen and discerning hearts, eager to see whether she truly knows and feels the weight of the people's Cross, and more importantly, whether she is now ready and willing to carry with us its awesome and almost unimaginable weight."
The US Embassy was deliberately chosen as the rallying point to stress the importance of protecting human life above all else. Because the US government harshly criticised the Philippines' decision to withdraw its contingent from Iraq in exchange for the release of its hostage, for Father Reyes, this shows how insensitive the US is towards protecting human life.
Following a rash of kidnappings-for-ransom that shook Filipino public opinion President Arroyo lifted last year the moratorium on the death penalty. The country has the unenviable position of being Asia's kidnapping central. On average one person is taken every three days. In 2003 there were 158 recorded cases.
The Catholic Church immediately expressed its opposition to the measure stating that, to use the words of Msgr. Fernando Capalla, Bishop of Davao and President of the Philippines Bishop Conference, its position was still one of "critical collaboration with the government."
Currently, there are 1,005 inmates on death row. Of these, 17 are foreigners (many of whom were incarcerated for drug trafficking) and 29 are women (9 of whom are over 60) sentenced on drug-related charges. (SE)
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