Should the death penalty be meted out to corrupt public officials?
This was one of the suggestions from respondents in the academic study "From Pinoys to PNoy" conducted by three professors from the University of the Philippines National College of Public Administration and Governance.
We asked Yahoo! readers to weigh in on this issue via the Yahoo! Philippines Facebook Page.
"Pabor na pabor ako dyan... at sana wala nang palakasan system pa na umiral sa gobyerno (I am very much in favor of that… and I hope there will be no more untouchables in the government)!" said Kurt Jake Nantes.
"I just hope that this applies not just to the corrupt government officials, but to corrupt citizens as well. (People who don't take an effort to look for work, criminals, tax evaders, and other economic saboteurs)," said Human Resources Guy.
Meanwhile, Alisse Deleon Garcia said: "Masarap sabihin pero we don't have the right to take one's life kahit napakasama pa niya (It sounds good but we don't have the right to take one's life no matter how evil the person is)."
This was echoed by John Paul Prepeña Solatorio, who said: "No, life imprisonment in solitary confinement should be enough."
Other respondents humorously suggested punishing corrupt officials, who are often referred to as "buwaya" (crocodile) in Filipino slang, through Lolong, the gigantic crocodile captured alive in the Philippines.
"Very much agree... o di kaya ipakain sa kalahi nila na si Lolong (or maybe feed them to their relative, Lolong)!" said Edgardo Agutaya Adocal.
"Isama na lng sila sa kulungan ni Lolong para sama-sama na silang kapwa 'buwaya' (Put them in the cage with Lolong so that they'll all be together with fellow crocodiles," added Joe Bigcas.
For his part, Henry D. Escalante said: "Sangayon ako -- kaya lang, in my opinion, baka marami ang hindi sasangayon at baka di maisulong na maisabatas kasi marami ang kokontra or delaying tactics niyan. Sila yung mga gigisahin ng batas (I agree, but in my opinion, many might oppose and it could be hard for this to be passed into law, as many of the lawmakers themselves will be the ones punished by this law)."
In the end, whatever the form of punishment might be, what's important is for the law to be obeyed and sentences carried out without any favoritism.
"The solution is to really go after the corrupt and let them spend the rest of their life in a real prison, not in a hotel room. The real problem is the corrupt get away [unscathed], get elected again and again," said Badette Tins.
How about you, what's your take on this issue? Post your comments and make your voice heard!
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Joey Alarilla is the Southeast Asia Head of Social and Community of Yahoo! Southeast Asia. Visit his personal blog at JoeyAlarilla.com and follow him on Twitter: @joeyalarilla
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