I WELCOME most of the programs of our President-elect Rodrigo Duterte, particularly in the areas of corruption, crimes, drugs and poverty. This piece does not aim to interfere in any way in the politics of the state, but to share some of my insights into the core values of human life.
Questions linger in my mind: Is our President-elect serious in all his statements and promises? Does he mean all the words he says, particularly devil-like and shocking remarks? Was he only misquoted? Which are acceptable and not?
As a humble, law-abiding citizen and a faithful servant leader of the Roman Catholic Church, I believe in my faith and teachings on human life. The Catholic Church upholds that every human life is precious and sacred, and must be protected from conception to death. By defending human life, the Church contributes to uphold the dignity of a human being, the family and society. The Church is the mother and teacher of all lay faithful who have been entrusted the basic duty of strengthening basic human rights in life.
The Catholic Church’s conviction against the taking of life, even that of a guilty person, is based on the Church’s moral doctrine and is anchored on our faith “that God is the Creator of life, and He is the only One who can take it away from a person.” Pope John XXIII, in his 1963 encyclical, “Pacem in Terris,” a document on capital punishment, defends human life in the context of human rights and common good.
In late 1960, John Paul II affirmed and strengthened the Church defense on the sanctity of life through various writings and encyclicals—e.g., “Redemptoris Hominis” (1979), “Familiaris Consortio” (1988), “Christi Fidelis Laici” (1988), and “Evangelium Vitae” (1995).
The Philippines is an active party to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which is aimed at abolishing the death penalty throughout the world. Many organizations, local and international—e.g., Pro-Life, Amnesty International—are not in favor of restoring the death penalty, which has been abolished in years past. Restoring it would take a long process, beginning with a new law that has to be passed by Congress. More importantly, its restoration runs counter to an important teaching and doctrine of the Church. God is the author of this law of life. Didn’t Jesus say, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord’ but do not do what I command you?”
The advocates of the death penalty view this approach as an instant solution to controlling criminality and heinous crimes. Obviously, they do not realize that whenever a criminal comes before the judgment seat of God, whatever his sins are, God is not going to ask him/her how many lives he/she has killed, or how many times he/she has committed adultery, or got involved in drugs. God would ask him: “Is there anyone in your life whom you haven’t forgiven?”
In trying to eradicate criminals, law enforcers must make sure that the process of administering justice is always and properly observed instead of ending up “killing” justice itself. To quote a favorite greeting of Jesus to His disciples: “You heard it often said, ‘an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say this to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek turn the other cheek to him as well.”
With those words, Jesus tells us not to fight evil with evil means. He warns that evil only grows stronger when the injured party retaliates. Jesus’ peaceful and nonretaliatory approach brings out the good from the heart of the offended party and makes the erring person realize the evil deed. The vicious cycle of evil in the form of revenge and further violence is thus broken. This brings out the good from our enemies’ hearts, too.
It is only God who knows the depths in the human heart. The last word in death is not extinction but hope. Pope Francis says that “punishment that does not give rise to hope is torture, it is not punishment,” emphasizing his firm opposition to the death penalty.
I reaffirm my full support to most of the advocacies of our President-elect Duterte, specifically on his war against the “Big Cs” of Criminality, Corruption and Cocaine (Drugs). These three Big Cs are cancers that erode the quality of our nation’s socioeconomic life, the roots of all evil that destroy the moral fibers of our nation as a family.
Some of the outrageous cuss words and remarks of our President-elect—“If you destroy my country, I will kill you,” “If you destroy the youth, I will kill you,” “If a drug dealer would resist arrest or refuse to be taken to a police station and would threaten you with a gun or a knife, you can kill him. I will give you a reward”—together with his stern warnings and promise to eradicate crimes and illegal drugs within the first six months, illustrate his “brutal” frankness to stop these crimes now (with urgency). Looking deeper into his seemingly “killer instinct” words, physical appearance and actuations, I see a person with an “iron-fist” but with a big, protective, compassionate heart. His challenging statements clearly depict hidden strains of good personal values and potentials to be a “great leader,” peculiar personal traits of seriousness, and a sense of urgency and commitment, a strong political will, and a vision to see real drastic change—but all immersed in love.
I pray to God to protect him, strengthen him, give him good health, and surround him with true, good leaders. For God to enlighten him to work for the “culture of life.” And for God to create in him a new heart—a heart of compassion and love, in accordance with His will.
Ricardo S.D. Ledesma is former president of the Council of the Laity of Manila.