10 Surprising Facts About Death Penalty In The Philippines
10 Surprising Facts About Death Penalty In The Philippines
For Filipinos, few issues can be so polarizing yet undoubtedly interesting at the same time as that of the death penalty. After all, some of the most memorable moments of our history have involved capital punishment (the Gomburza’s garrote, Jose Rizal’s firing squad, etcetera).
Although we won’t enter in the un-ending whirlpool of debates and choose which side we’re on, we do however would like to share some of the more-interesting stories and facts about our country’s on-and-off brush with the death penalty.
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10. The Pre-Spanish Filipinos Practiced It Albeit Infrequently.
Photo Credit: National Library, Manila.
While not capital punishment in the sense that it was not rendered for the sake of the state, the pre-Spanish Filipinos did practice the death penalty. However, they practiced it infrequently at best.
Death sentences were regularly commuted to fines, flogging, or slavery. Out of the three, slavery was the most common form of commutation since the pre-Spanish Filipinos found it more practical to have a slave work in their fields and lands.
And unlike what the proven hoax Code of Kalantiaw would like us to believe, the condemned were not subjected to unusual and cruel punishments such as being eaten by ants or thrown in boiling water. Instead, they were executed via the more-common methods of decapitation and hanging. 9. The Spanish Also Didn’t Use It Much Either.
Execution by the use of garrotte. Via Wikipedia.
Another misconception about Spanish rule in the Philippines blown way out of proportion is the implementation of the death penalty during their rule. While executions did indeed happen, they only commonly occurred during rebellions and uprisings. In cases of treason, rebellion, or any other crime which endangered Spanish sovereignty, the death penalty was frequently employed to quell the disturbance.
In times of relative peace, however, the Spanish did not bother to employ capital
For Filipinos, few issues can be so polarizing yet undoubtedly interesting at the same time as that of the death penalty. After all, some of the most memorable moments of our history have involved capital punishment (the Gomburza’s garrote, Jose Rizal’s firing squad, etcetera).
Although we won’t enter in the un-ending whirlpool of debates and choose which side we’re on, we do however would like to share some of the more-interesting stories and facts about our country’s on-and-off brush with the death penalty.
-
10. The Pre-Spanish Filipinos Practiced It Albeit Infrequently.
Photo Credit: National Library, Manila.
While not capital punishment in the sense that it was not rendered for the sake of the state, the pre-Spanish Filipinos did practice the death penalty. However, they practiced it infrequently at best.
Death sentences were regularly commuted to fines, flogging, or slavery. Out of the three, slavery was the most common form of commutation since the pre-Spanish Filipinos found it more practical to have a slave work in their fields and lands.
And unlike what the proven hoax Code of Kalantiaw would like us to believe, the condemned were not subjected to unusual and cruel punishments such as being eaten by ants or thrown in boiling water. Instead, they were executed via the more-common methods of decapitation and hanging. 9. The Spanish Also Didn’t Use It Much Either.
Execution by the use of garrotte. Via Wikipedia.
Another misconception about Spanish rule in the Philippines blown way out of proportion is the implementation of the death penalty during their rule. While executions did indeed happen, they only commonly occurred during rebellions and uprisings. In cases of treason, rebellion, or any other crime which endangered Spanish sovereignty, the death penalty was frequently employed to quell the disturbance.
In times of relative peace, however, the Spanish did not bother to employ capital