Malaysia abolition of death penalty welcomed
A lawmaker welcomed the decision of the Malaysian government to abolish mandatory death penalty on certain offenses giving judges the discretion whether or not to impose the capital punishment.
According to Kabayan Ron Salo, this is an opportune time to the national government to exert all efforts to assist Filipino workers on death row.
Salo, chairman of the House committee on overseas workers affairs, said that such move is a progressive and humane development that may benefit the Filipinos on death row in Malaysia.
“It gives us so much hope that many of their cases will be reconsidered and will be given lighter punishments. This will give our countrymen the chance to reform and lead better lives,” Salo said.
It can be recalled that in a previous Congressional hearing, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) officials bared that 83 overseas Filipinos had been sentenced to death on various charges, 56 of these cases are in Malaysia alone.
Filipinos facing the death penalty or life imprisonment will be able to seek a review of their sentences.
“Most of these cases are already final and executory. Without this development, our only recourse was to seek a presidential pardon from the Malaysian government,” Salo noted.
The solon then urged the DFA and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to act swiftly and provide the necessary assistance to the Filipinos on death row in Malaysia.
“I urge the DFA and the DMW to immediately provide all the needed legal assistance for overseas Filipinos on death row in Malaysia for a review of their sentences,” Salo concluded.
The new legislation is very timely as it coincides with the month-long celebration of Ramadan, which is a time of compassion and forgiveness.
