Church group backs caravan against death penalty bill

THE Diocesan Social Action Center of the local Roman Catholic archdiocese has joined and thrown its support behind broad coalition of civil society groups working on a public education campaign against the proposed restoration of the death penalty.

The coalition, composed of Commission of Laiko, PMPI, Radio Veritas, PPVR, Code-NGO, Sentro, Pilipina, Phildhrra, and Pakisama, is staging “Lakbay-Buhay,” a 21-day nationally coordinated, cross-country, and basic sector-led multi-sectoral march-caravan public education campaign.

The campaign is aimed mainly at helping create broad public opinion against the Death Penalty Bill from passing the Senate.

“Stopping [the] Death Penalty Bill is very significant as it protects our country and our people from the culture of fear and death,” Archbishop Antonio Ledesma said.

The campaign has three pillars:

• campaign organizational synergy as measured by the number of multi-sectoral campaigning organizations;
• citizens’ education as measured by increased awareness of millions of Filipino citizens;
• mainstreamed basic sector agenda and participation.

Ledesma said the archdiocese’s participation in the campaign is “our manifestation of communion to all communities who love and value life.”

A public forum has been scheduled as part of a mobilization work tomorrow, ahead of an afternoon send-off and walk to pier on Sunday.

Ledesma said, “There is no easy way to influence the decision of our legislators. Hard work, unity and solidarity among our people is part of the challenge. Our participation in this initiative is part of our social and moral mission to preserve, protect and promote the dignity and value of life… We are hoping that the conscience of our senators will hear the cry of God’s people: stop death penalty.”