Faces of Death in the Philippines: Capital Punishment

Death comes in different ways. It could be brought by war, disaster, and natural selection. We have also seen faces on how death care service was catered to them along with the tradition and culture that surround it. But to contrary to popular belief; death can sometimes be determined by people.

Death penalty or capital punishment has always been a very controversial topic to discuss. As the time has progressed to a rather, more humanistic approach when it comes to justice system. As of present, Japan, Iran and China are part of the one-third of the world that has laws that allow death penalty.

For several years capital punishment in the Philippines has not been practiced and the credits go to human rights activists and the Catholic Church that have openly expressed their protest to such jurisdiction. But long before any foreign countries have started invading the Philippines, the small communities that are thriving in throughout the archipelago have already their own set of established rules and laws to keep the order and peace. While we can expect that these laws are not as elaborate or as complex as the current existing laws, these laws are necessary to manage and control the people living within that certain kind of community. These laws covers practices such as social responsibilities, taxation, how to cater death care services to the dead, and guidelines on bestowing punishment for those who will not follow.

During those times, speaking disrespectfully or using insults or abusive language to a village chief in the Tagalog areas is punishable by death sentence. The same punishment is awarded upon insulting a chief’s daughter or wife. These penalties can be waived if certain fine of gold is paid. On occasions where a fallen chief is receiving death care services, talking or any noise is prohibited as it is considered as an insult. Theft, murder, and espionage are other crimes that will score any offender the death penalty. If a person is also proven to be using witchcraft, that person will also receive death sentence.

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Death sentences are often commuted into enslavement during those times but punishment varied depending on the severity of the crime and the person against whom it was perpetrated. Aside from death sentence and enslavement, imprisonment and lashing can also be bestowed as punishment to less serious offences. Pillory or stock, a punishment wherein the offender is handcuffed in an exposed area for the public to be jeered at and ridiculed, can also be catered to any offender.

During the Spanish colonial rule in the Philippines, capital punishment or death penalty is still being imposed. Hanging was a popular method. Another was firing squad which is especially for military crimes (a notable case was Rizal’s execution) and garrote or decapitation of the head (a method used for the GomBurZa).

Handing down death sentence or capital punishment has once again become a hot topic in the Philippines since the inauguration of the 16th President, Rodrigo Duterte, who supports it and has stated that it would necessary for the campaign to eliminate drugs in the country. Whether we will be joining the one-third of the world that has laws that allows death penalty or not what we can be sure of is that this chapter that will define our country as a nation.



Sources:
http://intersections.anu.edu.au/issue13/mintz.html