Press Release
May 20, 2008

KIKO ON THE SPATE OF MASSACRES IN LAGUNA
"At the root of the criminality and lawlessness that we now face is the inability of our system of justice, because of severe constraints, to punish swiftly and in failing to do so, the state is unable to send the strong message that in this country crime does not pay." - Kiko

Following the two mass murders in Laguna that took the life of at least 18 people, Senate Majority Leader and Independent senator Kiko Pangilinan today urged authorities to intensify their investigation so that those responsible for the killings are brought to the bar of justice.

"We must express our outrage over the spate of lawlessness but until and unless our outrage is channeled towards instituting sweeping reforms in our system of justice where criminal cases are decided without undue delay and the guilty are punished swiftly, then sadly we will not see the end of these heinous crimes. At the root of the crime and lawlessness that we now face is the inability of our system of justice, because of severe constraints, to punish swiftly and in failing to do so, the state is unable to send the strong message that in this country crime does not pay." Kiko stressed.

Subsequently, because of the mass murders in Laguna some legislators are proposing for the revival of the Death Penalty Law.

"Sadly, the public outrage will die down and these crimes will be all but forgotten in a few weeks time and without a strong institutional response from our justice system, the case may take all but forever to be resolved and decided. Let's not kid ourselves into believing that by doing more of the same, by applying governance as usual, these problems will go away. They won't. We need sweeping reforms in the justice system and we need them now. We should begin by increasing the budget of the judiciary and the justice department particularly the national prosecution service." Kiko ended.

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