Senate of the Philippines (File photo)
MANILA – A senator has re-filed his bill seeking to impose the death penalty on big-time drug traffickers and plunderers while at least three others said they would file their versions.
Senator Ronald dela Rosa limited his version only to high-level drug traffickers so it would not be considered anti-poor.
"There's no high-level drug trafficker who can be considered as small-time. Hindi po kasama dito ‘yung mga (Not included here are the) ordinary street drug pushers. Only big-time drug traffickers," dela Rosa said in an interview with a news channel on Friday.
Although he expects a discussion on the quantity of illegal drugs that may be considered "high-level", he said one kilogram could already be classified as such.
In the 18th Congress, none of the 11 death penalty bills filed by nine senators were acted upon after being referred to the Committee on Justice and Human Rights, chaired by former senator Richard Gordon.
"It was never given attention. Not even one hearing was conducted by the said committee. For this 19th Congress, I am optimistic that it will gain traction," dela Rosa said.
Given the chance, he said he is determined to convince President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to certify the bill as urgent.
Presumptive Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said in a recent interview, however, that the death penalty is not a priority of the Marcos administration.
Zubiri said he would not support any measure that would infringe on human rights.
Recalling his experience as chief of the Bureau of Corrections, dela Rosa said he had personally talked to drug lords who are still engaged in the business even while inside the jail.
"One of them told me that if you really want to stop drug trafficking in your country – this is a Chinese drug lord that I was talking to – you have to institute back the death penalty for drug trafficking. That's the best solution to stop drug trafficking," he said.
Dela Rosa cited Indonesia where mere drug possession is already punishable by death.
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go likewise expressed his willingness to re-file a measure reinstating the death penalty for certain heinous crimes.
“We can file it again if we want, reinstating the death penalty for certain heinous crimes involving dangerous drugs and plunder,” Go said in a recent interview.
Under his proposed measure filed in July 2019 during the 18th Congress, plunder or the illegal acquisition of wealth by a public officer with an aggregate amount of at least PHP50 million will be punishable by death.
Drug-related crimes, specifically importation, distribution, and possession of dangerous drugs or essential chemicals; maintenance of dens for related activities; cultivation of illicit narcotic plants; unlawful prescription of dangerous drugs; misapplication of confiscated drugs by public officers; and planting of evidence, will also be subject to capital punishment.
Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Robin Padilla have similarly expressed their commitment to support the reinstatement of the death penalty. (PNA)
