With Senate President Vicente Sotto III leading the Senate, some members of the House of Representatives are positive that the bill which seeks the reimposition of the death penalty for drug-related offenses would get the nod in the upper chamber.
Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, who supported House Bill 4727, said Sotto鈥檚 openness to the bill was a 鈥渨elcome development.鈥�
鈥淣gayon, magandang development na mismong Senate President would go for 聽the death penalty for all perpetrators of crime na drug related (It is a welcome development that the Senate President himself supports the revival of the death penalty for drug-related offenses),鈥� Barbers said in a press conference on Monday.
鈥淪a tingin ko, ito鈥檡 isang magandang paraan para magkaroon din ng ngipin ang giyera kontra droga (I think it is also a good way to strengthen the war on drugs),鈥� he added.
Sotto,聽who is among the leading proponents of reviving the death penalty in the Senate,聽earlier said the bill can already get more than 13 votes if the measure would only cover high-level drug traffickers.
搁贰础顿:听Sotto: Revival of death penalty can garner more than 13 votes in Senate, if鈥�
Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr., CIBAC Rep. Sherwin Tugna, and 1-CARE Rep. Carlos Uybarreta, welcomed Sotto鈥檚 pronouncement, but Amin Rep. Amihilda Sangcopan reiterated her party鈥檚 opposition to the death penalty.
Sangcopan cited the bill鈥檚 dangerous implications for Muslims. She explained that the concept of forgiveness, mercy, and compassion is important to them. However, the bill may also put Muslims, especially those residing in Metro Manila, at a disadvantage since they are usually discriminated upon and slapped with unscrupulous charges under Sec. 5 and 11 of the Dangerous Drugs Act.
Barbers, Teves, and Tugna agreed that there is no need to refile the bill now as the ball is in Senate鈥檚 court.
鈥淭hey can always put additional provisions and we can reach a compromise during bicam,鈥� Teves said.
Voting 217-54 with one abstention, the lower House passed a bill allowing the state to legally execute drug lords and drug pushers through the restoration of the death penalty on March 7, 2017.
搁贰础顿:听House OKs death penalty bill on final reading
The Senate hearings, however, were earlier shelved to allow 鈥淢alaca帽ang time to clarify if reviving death penalty would not violate any international treaty against capital punishment.鈥� /ee
搁贰础顿:听No Senate OK seen for death bill