Ex-police chief Eleazar stands against death penalty
SENATORIAL aspirant Guillermo T. Eleazar, who recently retired as chief of the police force, on Tuesday said that he is against capital punishment and believes that the country should instead strengthen its justice system.
“I am not for death penalty,” Mr. Eleazar said in an ANC interview.
“Unless we have a perfect system it’s better to acquit 10 guilty persons than to make suffer or convict one innocent man.”
Mr. Eleazar is running under Partido Reporma, the party of presidential aspirant and Senator Panfilo M. Lacson, Sr., also a former police chief.
“It’s still best to strengthen our criminal justice system,” he added in a mix of English and Filipino, “because if we can ensure that criminals will be punished, that is the best crime prevention measure.”
Mr. Lacson, along with his running mate Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III, earlier said they are now against the reimposition of capital punishment, citing concerns over potential wrongful convictions. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan
