Unthinkable Laws from Unthinking Lawmakers

Even in the Philippine Congress there seems to be times when lawmakers just keep on making laws without proper discernment, and the result can be very devastating. These laws practically provide certain people a license to kill others under certain circumstances.

Undiscerned Provisions of Laws

Article 247 of the Revised Penal Code: "Any legally married person who having surprised his spouse in the act of committing sexual intercourse with another person, shall kill any or both of them in the act or immediately thereafter, or shall inflict upon them any serious physical injury, shall suffer the penalty of destierro." Furthermore, "If he shall inflict upon them physical injuries of any other kind, he shall be exempt from punishment. These rules shall be applicable, under the same circumstances, to parents with respect to their daughters under eighteen years of age, and their seducer, while the daughters are living with their parents." Well, a similar law can be found in Islamic and Jewish laws.

But for a Christian country like ours? "Shall kill"? That is unthinkable. For one, this law can be used as an excuse for killing the adulterous spouse. For another, it ignores human freedom even for those who betrayed their spouse. Why not instead allow an exacting penalty from conjugal property in favor of the offended spouse, and let that spouse make a decision to let the adulterous spouse go or not? Is adultery worth taking life? This law thinks so.

Watchful Lawmakers

Lawmakers who work as vanguard of our basic rights as Filipino must be applauded for their vigilance in Congress.

One of these lawmakers is Bayan Muna partylist representative Neri Colmenares who recently filed a bill in the House of Representatives to repeal Article 247 in the Revised Penal Code. Kudos to you, Congressman!

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