THROUGH the many years of debating the abolition of the death penalty, then of its reimposition, then of its abolition once again, and then of its reimposition yet once more, the Filipino public should already be familiar with the pros and cons of the issue. Those who favor its imposition have argued that it serves the ends of justice as a means by which society avenges or punishes the acts of those who kill others. They contend that it is reserved for the most heinous offenses. The House of Representatives has passed a bill reimposing the death penalty for those guilty of capital drug offenses. Those who oppose it cite figures that prove that capital punishment does not effectively deter crimes. They also argue that it has been proven to have been meted on innocent persons, especially the poor with no capacity to hire competent counsel to defend them. The Church argues that no one has the right to take a life except God.