FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING | Death penalty revival may prosper in next Senate -Sotto

May 17, 2019 , 11:36 AM

(MAY 17, 2019) – With many of the emerging winners in the 2019 senatorial race backing the return of death penalty, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said the bill would likely flourish in the 18th Congress.

“In the news Senate, there’s a possibility of 13 [votes] for high-level drug trafficking alone,” Sotto said in a press briefing on Thursday.

A measure only needs 13 votes to be passed in the Senate.

Death penalty for other heinous crimes, however, will not likely prosper according to Sotto.

Several names dominating Comelec’s partial, official tally of votes are allies of President Rodrigo Duterte, who himself has been pushing for the reimposition of death penalty for drug traffickers.

Among those backing the revival of capital punishment are former senators Pia Cayetano, Lito Lapid and Bong Revilla.

Likely winners former presidential aide Bong Go, former PNP chief Bato dela Rosa, former MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino, and Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos are also supportive of death penalty.

Senators Koko Pimentel, Cynthia Villar, and Sonny Angara are all in favor of death penalty but only for high-level drug offenses.

Senators Nancy Binay and Grace Poe, meanwhile, reject capital punishment, although Poe had favored death penalty when she ran for president in 2016.

A PRIORITY BILL?

Asked if prioritizing the bill will expedite its passage, Sotto did not discount the difficulty of convincing lawmakers who oppose it.

“It is possible. Hindi ko puwedeng sabihing mas madali.. Eh kung maraming [may] ayaw. [Even if it becomes] a priority, it doesn’t mean it has a chance of passing. Hindi madali,” he said.

The senate president said that the death penalty bill will not be a priority under his leadership, although other senators may instead push for it.

“It has never been a priority as far as I’m concerned. Ang daming mas priority eh,” he said, noting that the measure will still undergo intense debate in the upper chamber.

Last February, the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading a bill reimposing the death penalty against any person found possessing dangerous drugs during a party or at a social gathering or meeting.But two days later, the lower chamber moved to retract the death penalty bill or House Bill No. 8909, as it has yet to “cleanse” its provisions.

The Philippines dropped capital punishment in 1987 following the ratification of a new constitution.

In 1993, death penalty was reinstated as part of former president Fidel V. Ramos’ campaign promise. The practice was suspended under the Arroyo regime in 2006.

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