A veteran lawmaker is confident the Roman Catholic Church will eventually support calls to restore death penalty in the Philippines for convicted pedophiles, particularly those engaged in torture and sexual assault of children, as well as child pornography.
In a radio interview, Valenzuela City Congressman Win Gatchalian said the Catholic Church now has become more “liberal” and “open” for changes under its new leadership.
It would be remembered that Pope Francis excommunicated last year Argentinian priest Jose Mercau, who was sentenced to 14 years in prison in 2011 after admitting to sexually abusing four teenagers.
Related News: Gatchalian calls for restoration of death penalty for pedophiles
“Nagiging mas liberal at open na ho kasi ngayon ang Catholic Church. Si Pope Francis nga mismo ay napakahigpit [ang panawagan] laban sa mga krimen, lalung-lalo na sa pang-aabuso ng mga bata. Maraming kaparian sa ibang parte ng mundo ang naiimbestigahan at napaparusahan,” Gatchalian said.
“Sa ganitong pamumuno, naniniwala ako na magkakaroon ng change of heart. Eventually maiintindihan ng simbahang Katoliko kung bakit natin kailangan ng death penalty sa Pilipinas,” he hoped.
Gatchalian reiterated that death penalty on pedophiles must be restored in order to protect children and bring fear to those who are planning to commit sexual abuse.
“Kapag ang bata naabuso buong buhay na itong nakaukit sa kanyang pagkatao kaya dapat magkaroon ng death penalty,” Gatchalian said.
“Sa ngayon kasi mahina kasi ang parusa at walang natatakot kaya talagang lumalaganap na ang pedophilia sa ating bansa. Ginagawang sex capital at playground ng mga foreign sex syndicates ang Pilipinas,” he said.
Related News: Gatchalian renews call for death penalty restoration for pedophiles
Gatchalian also noted that arrested pedophiles in the past were able to post bail and continue with their criminal activities because of the loopholes not only in the existing laws, but also in the judicial system where corruption is known to exist.
He observed that the Philippines remains to be a favorite hunting ground for poor children who are used as objects of sadistic and pornographic videos that are being financed by a worldwide syndicate, with members coming from Brazil, Germany and the United Kingdom.
Early July, a 73-year-old former Belgian mayor had been arrested and charged by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for molesting at least 20 Filipina girls.
The arrest of a Dutch national in the Netherlands last year on charges of child exploitation has traced the operations of child pornography also in the Philippines which uses girls ages 1 to 12 who are not only forced to perform sexual acts but are also tortured to death. (Tim Alcantara)
