A survey held in March, showed a 60 percent support...

A survey held in March, showed a 60 percent support for execution, but Rodolfo Diamante, executive secretary of the CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Parish Pastoral Care (ECPPC), said he was confident that the latest Pulse Asia survey would not dampen the conviction of senators and members of the House of Representatives to abolish the death penalty.
"I don't think that the House members will be swayed. In fact, there are even signs that some solons who used to favor the death penalty have changed their views and are now supporting its abolition," Diamante said.
House Bill 1396, "An Act Abolishing Death Penalty," was sponsored by Albay 4th District Rep. Kristel Lagman-Luistro. At least 64 legislators have joined the signature campaign to repeal the law. In favor of the abolition of capital punishment are Senators Vicente Sotto III and John Osmena, Leyte Rep. Ted Failon and San Juan Rep. Ronaldo Zamora.
"The issue of death penalty is not just an issue of popularity. It's a question of what is really right. The majority may say it is popular, but is it the right thing to do? It is an emotional issue and I think the public should be informed of the pros and cons," Diamante said. Pulse Asia's March 22-26 survey revealed that 60 percent of respondents from the National Capital Region favour the death penalty while 25 percent are against and 15 percent remain undecided.
"We won't refute their survey. We will give them (Pulse Asia) the benefit of the doubt. But it is a question of who are the respondents and how they formulated their questionnaires," the ECPPC head added. The survey also serves as an indication that the people are fed up with crime and they want the government to do something about it.
Execution, said Diamante, was merely an illusion of President Arroyo to appease the public. The public should desist from repeating the mistake of the Jews when they clamored for Jesus Christ's crucifixion on the cross, he said.
"There is a great possibility that they will execute someone innocent."
At the Senate, Senator Ralph Recto echoed the CBCP, saying the government should ignore the survey because it would be "bowing to the wishes of the mob" if it goes on an "execution spree of convicts."
While acknowledging that polls allowed policy makers to feel the public pulse, Recto said these "should not be the sole guideposts in making decisions. What is popular is not always right."
He added: "The true test of leadership is not in riding on a popular issue which, upon closer scrutiny, is harmful to the public, but in going against the tide by making unpopular choices which are right."