the President vested with the power to grant reprieves, commutations and pardons, and remitfines andforfeitures, after conviction by final judgment.” CONGRESSIONAL OVERLAPSE It maywell be as opportuneas the controversy to dwell on the genesis of the death penaltyand its place in the great religions of our time, Islam and Christianity. As wepride ourselvesto be the only Christian nation in Asia with Muslim minority,it is but aptthat any discussionon this subject should be contextualized in our religious and cultural upbringing as a people. If the death penalty law attracted, as it is, malevolence, it is because, for one reason, it took inspiration from the emotional rage of our time occasioned bythe surge of heinous rather than from the social teachings of religion. Indeed, during deliberation in Congress,sadto say, religion was not given studiedor due consideration. SANCTITY OF LIFE In Christianity and Islam, the sanctityof life occupies a mostsacrosanct place in the hierarchyof humanvalues. In the Gospel of Jesus Christ (MPUH), love of neighbor is the second most important injunction of Christianity after love of God.§ And forgivenessis thefirst rule in relationship between man and man. In Matthew,hesaid: “But nowI tell you: Do you take revenge on someone who doesyou wrong.”? Jesus further teaches: “Love your enemies and pray for those who prosecute you.”*° In the book of Romans, the sameprinciple is articulated: “If someone doesevil to you, do not pay him back with evil. Try to do what all menconsiderto be good. Do everything possible, on yourpart, to live at peace with all men.”" In Islam,the first law of God for manis to be merciful and beneficent. These twoare attributes of God repeated 113 times as opening statements ofall the surahs orchapters of the Qur’an except its 9‘ surah, Taubah. Indeed, the first and foremost basic right in Islam is the right to life. As defined in the Qur’an: Whoever kills a human being without any reason like manslaughter or corruption on earth, it is though he had killed all mankind. And whoever saves a life it is as though he had saved the lives of all mankind.*3 XXX Do notkill a soul which Allah has made sacred except through due process of law.'4 7 Section 19, Article VII, 1987 Philippine Constitution. * Luke 10:27 ° Matthew 5:38, 39 '° Matthew 5:44 "Romans 12:17-18 Abdul A’laMaududi, “HumanRightsin Islam,” 1980: London, p.17 Qur'an 5:32 “ Quran 6:51