ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY

The Death Penalty in the Philippines: A Deterrent or a Human Rights Violation?

The death penalty is a severe punishment where the government puts someone to
death for a crime they committed. Some people think it’s a good idea to bring back
the death penalty in the Philippines for certain reasons, such as preserving law and
order, and if the person killed another person, he or she deserves to die too. While
others oppose the death penalty because it violates the most fundamental human right,
the right to life, Others said that the death penalty is used against members of
religious groups and those who have mental disabilities. By analyzing this issue, the
death penalty should be eliminated. The following are my reasons for opposing the
death penalty:

Firstly, bringing back the death penalty won’t make our country safer.There is no
solid proof that it actually stops people from committing crimes. Other countries have
tried it, but crime rates did not go down. Instead, we need to focus on improving our
police force and giving better support to victims in order for them to have a chance to
fight for their freedom.

Secondly, there is a big risk of making mistakes. Our justice system is not perfect here
in the Philippines, and innocent people could end up being put to death, especially if
the wealthy individuals of the country, like government officials, accused horrific
crimes and demanded execution. Once someone is executed, there is no going back.
This would result in a more prevalent system of injustice in the Philippines. We
cannot take that risk with people’s lives.

Thirdly, the death penalty is considered unethical due to its potential immorality. If
one person kills or murders another person, and that murder is sentenced to death by
the government, it is like repeating the action and supporting the act of killing, which
would give a negative model for the rest of mankind, especially the youth, as it is seen
as a response to another immoral act.
Lastly, using the death penalty goes against basic human rights. Everyone has the
right to life, no matter they’ve done. By killing people as punishment, we’re not
showing respect for human dignity. If we use the death penalty, we are essentially
stating that some people lives are less valuable than others, which go against to
human dignity.

In conclusion, instead of resorting to the death penalty, we should work on making

our justice system fairer and more efficient. Let’s focus on preventing crime by
addressing root causes like poverty and inequality. By protecting human rights and
promoting justice for all, we can build a safer and more compassionate society.

Citations:

 Human Rights Watch. (2022). Philippines: Drop Move to Reinstate Death

Penalty. Retrieved from https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/08/05/death-penalty-
danger-philippines
 Commission on Human Rights. (2022). CHR Stands Firm Against the
Reimposition of Death Penalty in the Country. Retrieved from
https://chr.gov.ph/chr-remains-firm-against-the-reimposition-of-the-death-
penalty/