Because We Are Christian and Filipino: Christianity and the Death Penalty in the Philippines

• Main Authors: Cornelio, Jayeel, Aldama, Prince Kennex
• Format: text
• Published: Archīum Ateneo 2021
• Subjects: Death penalty; Christianity; Duterte; Philippines; Criminal Law; Criminal Procedure; Defense and Security Studies; Development Studies; Religion
• Online Access: https://archium.ateneo.edu/dev-stud-faculty-pubs/102; https://brill.com/view/journals/ssm/34/3-4/article-p310_4.xml
• Institution: Ateneo De Manila University

As part of his campaign against criminality; President Duterte has called for the reinstatement of the death penalty in the Philippines. Its most vocal supporters are evangelical and independent Christian leaders and lawmakers. Although a religious minority; these entities are politically influential. In this article we show that they support the death penalty because they are Christian and Filipino. They articulate their support in two respects: it is biblical and it must be administered on heinous crimes for the sake of innocent people. We unpack these statements in terms of a religious citizenship that disregards the reality of religious diversity in Philippine society.