DILIMAN, Quezon City — Amidst proposals for the reimposition of the death penalty against heinous crime and for corrupt public officials, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has expressed opposition, arguing that capital punishment will not end the lingering problem of corruption in the government and private sectors.

The CHR issued this pronouncement in response to the proposed measure seeking to impose death penalty by firing squad for those found guilty of corruption-related crimes, provided that the Supreme Court has affirmed the conviction with finality.

"CHR recognizes that corruption is a grave offense that has far-reaching and systemic consequences, including perpetuation of inequality and weakening of institutions. However, the death penalty is not a guaranteed or effective solution to eradicate it," the Commission pointed out.

Stressing that death penalty is prohibited under the 1987 Philippine Constitution and its reimposition was likewise officially abolished in 2006, the CHR reminded lawmakers that the Philippines is one of the signatories to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which completely and perpetually banned the imposition of the death penalty.

It cited that "corruption is most effectively addressed through institutional reforms, consistent law enforcement and robust transparency and accountability mechanisms, rather than extreme punitive measures like the death penalty."

"Such cruel punishment does not address the problem; instead, it obscures the need for systemic reforms and misdirects focus from preventative measures, such as strengthening accountability mechanisms and governance systems," the Commission explained.

In ending, it underscored that the focus should be on ensuring the strict implementation of existing anti-corruption laws, enhancing scrutiny of public officials' financial assets and transactions, and advancing full disclosure policies.

"These measures, coupled with vigilant monitoring and public participation, can build a culture of integrity and accountability in governance. In addition, anti-corruption campaigns and digital efforts should promote voter education to enable Filipinos to make informed decisions," it concluded.