NOVALICHES Bishop Emeritus Teodoro Bacani Jr. said the government should focus on strengthening the justice system to speed up investigation and imposition of punishment on those who violate the law instead of pushing for the restoration of the death penalty to deter heinous crimes.

Bacani, one of the framers of the 1987 Constitution, issued the statement in reaction to Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert 'Ace' Barbers' move to file House Bill 1543 seeking the revival of capital punishment, citing the 'alarming increase in crimes in our country.'