Once again the issue of the effectiveness of the death penalty stares at the Filipino in the light of the recent murder of Betty Sy after a botched kinapping attempt.

No doubt the whole nation is enraged over this crime and not the very least the ethnic Chinese community whose members are the primary target of kidnapping gangs. So Filipinos are clutching at straws in efforts to stop the wave of snatching citizens for ransom.

One of these straws is reviving the death penalty, which has been placed on hold since President Estrada’s time in deference to a request by the Catholic church. But is reviving the death penalty the answer?

I doubt it. If kidnappers can get away with their crime –and sad to say most do– the death penalty becomes merely a hot issue TV networks can use to increase ratings. Worse, it becomes fodder for endless speeches by our do-nothing politicians, especially now that the unofficial election season is upon us.

The death penalty –and all our laws, for that matter– become effective only when those tasked with enforcing them are effective. Alas, this is where the real problem lies: our law enforcers like to talk, leak to media their moves and do everything to look good except be effective.

Take the new anti-kidnapping czar, Angelo Reyes, for example. What in heaven’s name is he doing in that role? Philippine Star’s Max Soliven says that Reyes, in every role he has taken, has been perfect … a perfect failure. Reyes is all tough talk and no balls.

What we need is an anti-crime czar who says nothing, strikes fear into the heart of criminals and is always two steps ahead of crime. He has to be effective and uncompromising. Yet, with the elections only a few months ahead, it’s unlikely we’ll get one.

The clamor of every Filipino should not be to bring the death penalty back, but to see drastic results in the work of our law enforcers to detect and stop crime even before it is committed … and NOW!