The death penalty has been a topic of debate for centuries, with proponents arguing that it serves as

a prevention to crime, while opponents claim that it is inhumane and violates human rights. In
recent years, many countries have abolished the death penalty, and the Philippines is among them.
The death penalty was abolished in the Philippines in 2006 after being reinstated in 1993 for certain
crimes, including drug-related offenses. One of the main arguments against the death penalty is that
it violates the fundamental human right to life. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states
that "everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person". No matter how heinous the
crime, taking another person's life is not a justifiable punishment.

Moreover, the death penalty has been proven to be an ineffective prevention to crime. Studies have
shown that there is no conclusive and convincing evidence that the death penalty reduces crime
rates. In fact, many countries that have abolished the death penalty have seen a significant decrease
in crime rates.
This indicates that there are more effective ways to deter crime than through the use of the death
penalty or Capital punishment.

Furthermore, the application of the death penalty is often subject to errors and biases. Wrongful
convictions and executions have occurred throughout history, and the risk of executing an innocent
person is too high. In addition, the death penalty is often used disproportionately against
marginalized groups, such as people of color and those who are poor and unable to afford proper
legal representation.

In addition to being ineffective and subject to many errors and biases, the death penalty is also a
very costly punishment. The cost of death penalty trials and appeals is significantly higher than the
cost of life imprisonment.
According to a study by the Kansas Judicial Council, the average cost of a death penalty case was
found to be 70% higher than the cost of a non-death penalty case. This is a very significant financial
burden on taxpayers and governments, especially considering that the death penalty does not offer
any benefits over life imprisonment in terms of reducing crime rates.

In conclusion, the death penalty or Capital punishment violates human rights, is an ineffective
deterrent to crime, is subject to errors and biases, and is a very costly punishment. The Philippines
made the right decision in abolishing the infamous death penalty in 2006, and other countries
should follow it. Instead of relying on the death penalty, we should focus on many effective ways to
reduce and decrease crime rates and ensure justice for victims and their families that will be very
humane and just..