Oro group joins 21-day caravan to Senate vs. death penalty bill

By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent

“LIFE, not capital punishment; livelihood, not death.”

This was the call of different groups in the city as they appealed to the Senate to reject the Duterte administration’s proposed restoration of the death penalty law.

A coalition of a dozen sectoral groups launched Lakbay Buhay, a 21-day awareness campaign aimed at drumming up support for the call against the Death Penalty Bill.

Hermenio Agsalong of Pakisama Lakbay Buhay said the campaign started on Thursday and would culminate at the Senate on May 24.

Agsalong’s group launched a nationally coordinated, cross-country, and basic sector-led  multi-sectoral public education march-caravan here yesterday.

From the pier in Macabalan, the group proceeded to Cebu. Participants would then go to Leyte, Tacloban, Samar, Catarman, Sorsogon, Legaspi in Albay, Naga, Lucena in Quezon, San Pablo in Laguna, Lipa in Batangas, Cavite all the way to the Senate.

“We will stage a rally at the Senate if it is really needed. Some of us would hold a vigil at the Luneta park,” Agsalong said.

Jose Morales, an urban poor leader, said they were dismayed over the Lower House’s railroading of the controversial bill.

“Gi-shortcut nila,” said Morales. “Wala na tayong maaasahan sa ating mga congressmen. Kaya nga dudulog na lang kami sa Senado, baka meron pa tayong pag-asa doon.”