Leaders of political blocs in the House of Representatives on Thursday vowed to object to a MalacaƱang proposal to execute death convicts through hanging.
Minority Leader and Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante and 1Pacman Partylist Rep. Michael L. Romero said cruel, inhuman, and degrading manners of punishment will be rejected by their respective groups.
Earlier, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a media interview that once the death penalty has been restored, the manner of executing convicts should be by hanging.
Abante, an evangelist, said he will back the re-imposition of the capital punishment as sought by President Duterte.
“I will support the re-imposition of the death penalty but I’ll oppose any method that is cruel, inhuman, and degrading,” said Abante.
“The minority might be divided in the issue of the death penalty but we are one and united to oppose all kinds cruelty, inhuman, and degrading ways of implementing it,” said Abante.
Romero said he has yet to make a decision on the restoration of the death penalty and the inclusion of plunder as among the crimes covered.
“I have been praying for God’s guidance on which path to take with regards to the proposal to restore the death penalty,” he said.
Romero added: “Definitely, cruel and inhuman manner of carrying out the death sentence will be fiercely objected to.”
Under existing laws, torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment convicts are prohibited.
ALSO READ: Pacquiao wants Death Penalty by Firing Squad for Drugs Crime, Lethal Injection for Plunder
It was recalled that the Philippines used to execute death convicts through the electric chair. This method has been prohibited after being considered cruel and inhuman.
The lethal injection took the place of electric chair before a law banning the death sentence was passed in Congress.
Reps. Rozzano Rufino Biazon (PDP-Laban, Muntinlupa City) and Victor A. Yap (NPC, Tarlac) filed separate measures proposing the restoration of the death penalty.
House Bill 741, authored by Biazon, carried a provision that chose death by lethal injection as the manner of executing a death convict.
HB 741 proposes the lifting of the ban on the imposition of the death sentence for crimes involving illegal drugs.
“This is to put back into the consciousness of those involved in the illegal rugs trade that the ultimate punishment of death awaits them should they continue with their nefarious acts,” said Biazon.
Authored by Yap, HB 0368 also sought the re-imposition of the death penalty on aliens whose country of origin adopts death as the maximum penalty for a crime also being penalized in the Philippines.
Earlier on Wednesday, Senate President Vicente Sotto III opposed proposals to implement death penalty by firing squad or hanging, saying these would violate the Constitution.
“Hindi pwede, unconstitutional lahat ‘yon (We cannot allow those, those are unconstitutional),” Sotto said when asked in an interview over radio DZBB.
ALSO READ: Lacson wants Death Penalty for Cops who Plant Drug Evidence
“Sapagkat nakalagay sa Constitution, hindi pwede ang hindi humane penalty. Hindi humane lahat ‘yon (Because it is stated in the Constitution, inhumane penalties are prohibited. Those are not humane). It does not fall under the category of humane,” he added.
The Senate chief referred to Section 19 of the Constitution’s Bill of Rights (Article 3) stating that “Excessive fines shall not be imposed, nor cruel, degrading or inhuman punishment inflicted.”
The same provision also stated: “Neither shall death penalty be imposed, unless, for compelling reasons involving heinous crimes, the Congress hereafter provides for it.”
For Sotto, the “only” humane punishment for those penalized with death is lethal injection.
Senator Emmanuel Pacquiao on Tuesday said he favors death penalty by firing squad for those convicted for drug offenses “so people would see it and not take example.”
On the other hand, he proposed lethal injection for convicted plunderers.
Meanwhile, Senator Panfilo M. Lacson pushed for a threshold of 100 kilos of illegal drugs to be covered by the proposed death penalty.
Lacson, a former chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said that a bigger volume or quantity of illegal drugs to be covered by the proposed measure would ensure that those to be meted with the capital punishment or death penalty are big-time drug lords and traffickers and not mere street peddlers.
This would also prevent enforcers from planting evidence against their would-be victims of extortions, the senator added.
His and his Senate colleagues’ primary concern, Lacson said, is the entry of tons of illegal drugs, usually “shabu” (crystal meth) that usually come from China, hidden in container vans.
WATCH: Pro-Death Penalty Aquino Changes Mind: Paano ‘pag nagkamali sa paghatol?
Lacson has filed Senate Bill 27 that covers a broad range of crimes, including terrorism, plunder, treason, qualified piracy, murder, rape, kidnapping and destructive arson, drug trafficking, human trafficking and arms smuggling. It prescribes the use of lethal injection.
Pacquiao also filed Senate Bill (SB)189 which seeks to impose the death penalty on illegal drug traffickers and manufacturers, plus a fine ranging from P1 million to P10 million on people who import, sell, distribute, manufacture, possess illegal drugs, cultivate or culture plants classified as dangerous drugs, and maintain a drug den, dive or resort.
ALSO READ: Here's Where each Senator stands on the re-imposition of Death Penalty
Likewise, Sen. Ronald dela Rosa filed SB 226 aiming to impose the capital punishment on drug traffickers and manufacturers. It also prescribes that the execution be carried out by firing squad.
Found this article interesting? Share it with your friends! šš¼
This article first appeared on Manila Bulletin.
No comments:
Post a Comment