MANILA – Any move to revive the death penalty must undergo careful and comprehensive study, a Malacañang official said.

In a Palace press briefing, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has not yet taken a position on the issue, amid renewed calls to impose capital punishment on corrupt politicians and public officials.

Castro stressed that the return of capital punishment should not be rushed, noting the need to ensure that the five pillars of the justice system are functioning effectively and fairly.

“Dapat aralin ito dahil hindi lamang ito bigla-biglang sinasabi na dapat nandiyan na ang death penalty. Inaaral mabuti dahil dapat malinis, mabuti, maging maayos itong tinatawag nating five pillars of justice system,” she said.

The Palace official also warned against the risk of wrongful convictions in a flawed system, citing past incidents where individuals admitted to planting evidence or fabricating accusations.

“Hindi tayo puwede na umaasa at maimpluwensiyahan. Dapat mawala sa impluwensiya ng mga Pilipino ‘yung mga nakaraang pangyayari kung saan may nag-admit na sila ay sanay gumawa ng intriga at magplanta ng ebidensiya,” Castro said.

“Paano kung ang inosente ay nagawan ng intriga at naplantahan ng ebidensiya? Death penalty ang maaaring ipataw. Kawawa naman po ‘yung masasabi nating inosente,” she added.

The Philippines abolished the death penalty in 1987, becoming the first country in Asia to eliminate capital punishment for all crimes. It was reinstated in 1993 under Republic Act 7659 during the administration of President Fidel Ramos, which reimposed the penalty for heinous crimes.

In 1996, Republic Act 8177 designated lethal injection as the method of execution.

A moratorium was later declared in 2000 by President Joseph Estrada, followed by the repeal of the death penalty in 2006 when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed Republic Act 9346, permanently abolishing capital punishment in the country.