MANILA, Philippines - While they condemned the crime, Catholic bishops on Sunday rejected Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri's call to revive the death penalty in the wake of Friday's bloody bank robbery in Laguna.
Church-run Radio Veritas reported that San Pablo, Laguna bishop Leo Drona scored the murder as the work of perpetrators "worse than animals."
Drona urged the Philippine National Police to speed up its investigation so the families of the victims can finally get justice.
On the other hand, Basilan bishop Martin Jumoad frowned on Zubiri's call to revive the death penalty, saying the swift resolution of the case is the best remedy.
Jumoad also appealed to the perpetrators to listen to their consciences and turn themselves in.
Pampanga archbishop Paciano Aniceto similarly thumbed down the death penalty, saying there had been many criminals sentenced to death but did not mend their ways.
For his part, Marbel bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez branded the death penalty as "anti-love and anti-life." - GMANews.TV