We believe that Leo Echegaray is guilty of a terrible crime and must be punished. But we, 27 organizations representing women are against the death penalty. It may surprise the public that we who have long been working against rape and other forms of violence against women and children are against the death penalty.

Do not label us pro-Echegaray.

We remain committed to our work against violence against women and children. In fact, we know that when this issue dies down and the limelight shifts away from the personalities, we will be left once more to deal with the needs of women and children who are victims of violence. It will be back to the reality of government's failure to respond adequately to violence against women and children.

Our reasons for opposing the death penalty are fundamentally different from those who have already made themselves heard.

The death penalty will not put an end to violence against women and children. Our culture of violence and criminality will continue to breed more criminals, who, in turn, will produce more victims. The death penalty will not arrest these violations. Rather, it will perpetuate the culture of violence.

The death penalty will desensitize people to killings.

Eventually, society will even believe government is doing something. In truth, the death penalty will hide government's inadequacies and distract us from the real problem.

The death penalty is a macho solution to a problem that is primarily rooted in a macho culture. As Erap would say, "Huwag n'yo akong subukan…" As though his threat of strong - arm tactics will strike fear in the hearts of rapists. Yet nothing has changed and nothing will change with the death penalty. The violence will continue. For government has no understanding of why rape happens. Thus, it has no appropriate strategy to prevent the occurrence of rape. It speaks of justice only after the violation has occurred.

Society likes to say that when a woman gets raped, her life is over. Rape victims are conditioned to believe this. They are made to believe they have been damaged and destroyed forever. And so, it is argued, the only appropriate penalty for rape is death – a life for a life, death for death.
When the rapist is killed, only then can the victim start the healing process and regain her dignity.

Indeed, we agree that rape is a grave crime.

We have always said so. We emphasize that the gravity of the crime of rape and other forms of violence against women and children must be recognized and affirmed. But we are not convinced that healing is facilitated by the death penalty. This is not possible for as long as society looks upon rape survivors as damaged goods. It is not possible for as long as rape victims themselves believe this.

With the death penalty, executions will not stop with Leo. We will kill and go on killing as violence against women and children goes on. If society says we should kill all rapists, then we will be killing thousands of men. The abusers are that many.

The death penalty should not be equated with justice. Justice begins with examining the culture that systematically breeds violence against women and children. It means addressing the roots of this problem and putting an end to the system that produces it. To talk about justice only after the fact is to talk empty.

The popular support for the death penalty is understandable. It stands as a desperate plea for protection from further violence and a clamor for solid justice. The death penalty will not satisfy these as it is in its essence only a form of retribution. What we can do is put Leo Echegaray away and ensure that he is truly kept away by prison officials. At the same time, we must engage in reflection, analysis and action to address the roots of violence and the ills of the system without forgetting to address the needs of abused women and children.

This is the direction to justice.

SAMA-SAMANG INISYATIBA NG KABABAIHAN SA PAGBABAGO NG BATAS AT LIPUNAN (SIBOL)

 1. Center for Legislative Development (CLD)
 2. Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines (DSWP)
 3. Institute for Social Studies and Action (ISSA)
 4. KALAYAAN
 5. Manggagawang Kababaihan Mithi ay Paglaya (MAKALAYA)
 6. PILIPINA
 7. Women's Crisis Center (WCC)
 8. Women's Education, Development, Productivity and Research Organization
     (WEDPRO)
 9. Women's Legal Bureau (WLB), Inc.
10. WomanHealth
11. Women's Resource and Research Center (WRRC)
 
With the following organizations:
 
12. Apelo Women's Health Association (AWHA)
13. Asian Center for Women's Human Rights (ASCENT)
14. Arugaan ng Kalakasan 
15. Babae at Bayan, Isulong! (BABAYI)
16. Bathaluman Crisis Center – Davao City
17. Coalition Against Trafficking in Women (CATW) – Asia Pacific
18. Isis International -  Manila
19. Kanlungan Centre Foundation, Inc.
20. Linangan ng Kababaihan,  Inc. (LIKHAAN)
21. MOTHERS – Letre
22. Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA) – Women's Desk
23. University of the Philippines College of Social Work & Community
    Development (UP-CSWCD)
24. Women's Action in Media (WAM)
25. Women of Amnesty International – Pilipinas (AI-Pilipinas)
26. Women of Development of People's Foundation - Davao City
27. Women of Medical Action Group (MAG)