DEATHROW REACTION PAPER

In the hierarchy of rights, the right to life is considered at the topmost. That is why for
taking of one’s life, the law provides for penalties. But, it cannot just simply be taken away as a
means of punishment as well. Prior to the abolishment of capital punishment, death penalty is
legal in the Philippines. It was only in June 2006 when then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
signed Republic Act No. 9346, also known as An Act Prohibiting the Imposition of the Death
Penalty in the Philippines, where death penalty was abolished. Now, focusing on the era of
capital punishment, heinous crimes committed by person equals to a death penalty.

During the showing of the movie “Deathrow”, I got a glimpse on how Philippines’
justice system works. How a person’s life may be at stake because he was ruled to have been
committed a crime which he was innocent of. How a person’s status in life plays a big part in
rendering justice. Or that, a person, shorten of evidence to prove his innocence, life may simply
be taken away from him.

On Philippines’ justice system, as much as we want justice to be served, we cannot, at all

times. Judges based their judgement on the weight of the evidence provided by the parties. One
can be acquitted if he sufficiently adduced evidence to prove that he did not commit the crime. In
the movie, it was shown that the counsel, struggling to defend his client, is face with the dilemma
of providing evidence to prove the minority of the latter. To which, failure to do so would not
clothe the minor from juvenile protection and would later put him in a death row; and the taking
of his life.

On evidences needed to prove that one is not guilty of the crime he was alleged to have
been committed, these pieces of paper, testimonies, and objects are considered as accused’s
saving grace. His right to life depends on these; it would determine his faith. It is a sad thought
that one’s life would just depend on a piece of paper; as easy as that.