In Defense of the Right to Life: Analyzing Factors Affecting Filipino Opinion About Death Penalty on cases. Surveys conducted by SWS for The Asia Foundation in 2013 and in 2015 (TAF Survey) found that most Filipinos consider that justice has been served if cases against the perpetrators have been filed or they have been caught, or that actual cases have already been resolved. Alternatively, most said that clear injustice has been done if the cases are not resolved or the perpetrators are not caught or set free. This paper also revealed an interesting finding that following the law over religious principles would be a significant predictor of support for the death penalty, while the religion variables were not significant at all. This was largely because it was expected that religion and religiosity would have significant effects, since 85% of Filipinos are Catholics, who, if they follow the Catholic Church’s pro-life arguments against the death penalty, should also be anti-death penalty. The results on the influence of demographic factors confirms previous research findings, to some extent. Likelihood of support for the re-instatement of the death penalty was higher in urban areas and among males, and those who are older. Support was lower among the noncollege educated, and those in Balance Luzon and/or Visayas, than in Mindanao.64 TV news media usage has some limited, yet important role as a predictor of support for the death penalty. It emerged as a significant predictor when the instrumental and symbolic factors were added. This raises the possibility of the indirect role of television content in heightening the emotion of not being safe or of being worried of crime victimization, as well as in forming the symbolic values of Filipinos in so far as the attitudes to the death penalty and the criminal justice are concerned. In surveys conducted by SWS in 2013 and in 2015 (TAF Survey), the top source of knowledge about the system of justice were portrayals of court proceedings in television drama series, followed by radio/television programs that provide legal advice and news about known cases from mass media, which is presumably through television. Internet likewise has some limited effect and was only found to be a significant predictor of support for the death penalty for the crimes of rape and murder under the influence, and importation of illegal drugs. While the internet and social media are not yet as popular as television as the top source of news, Internet news media content is getting more accessible to the old, to the non- educated, and to those in Mindanao – the same demographic groups who are more likely to support the death penalty. This paper thus brings to the fore the complexity of public opinion in which the Filipino public wavers support for the death penalty when presented with options and alternatives to the death penalty. The Philippine government’s argument that the public wants the death penalty is therefore flawed if its assumption is only based on perceived support and close-ended survey results. The lack of alternatives gives the impression that there are no other options available, which would have an impact in the accuracy of the survey being undertaken. This paper adds to the growing literature and policy advisories providing empirical evidence that support of the public for the death penalty is not as strong as what the government claims. The argument from government also asserts that several research calling for abolition of the death penalty are largely in Western contexts and as such cannot be applied to the situations The researchers note the challenges in the justice system, which are exacerbated by the situation of Mindanao. See Imelda Deinla, Legal Hybridity, Trust, and the Legitimacy of the Shari-ah in the Bangsamoro, 41 DenvJIntlL&Pol 198 (2019) at 203. See also Jose Manuel I. Diokno, Chairman, Free Legal Assistance Group / Dean, De La Salle Law School, Keynote Presentation at the Kapihan on Human Rights – “Philippines Human Rights Agenda,” Philippine Working Group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism Kapihan on Human Hive Hotel, Quezon City, (20 October 2016). 64 19