Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The House of Representatives takes a step towards reinstating the death penalty
With 12 members approving the proposed measure and six against, the Justice Committee approved on Wednesday the bill reviving capital punishment on heinous crimes, including illegal drug activities.
During the deliberations, lawmakers explained their positions as some comments turned personal.
“Kung kayo ay naniniwala sa Diyos, ako rin naniniwala sa Diyos [If you believe in God, I also do believe in God]. But I cannot leave our country defenseless against heinous crimes,” Deputy Speaker Fredenil Castro, one of the bill’s co-authors, said.
Majority of the members believe capital punishment would help prevent heinous crimes.
“Pinasok bahay mo, pinagsamantalahan anak mo at papatayin pa. Ang choice dito EJK or JK. Extra Judicial Killing or Judicial Killing,” Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas said. “Mabuti maglagay na tayo ng judicial killing.”
[Translation: Let’s say someone entered your house, raped and killed your child. The only choices left are EJK or JK. Extrajudicial killing or judicial killing. It’s better if we sanction judicial killing.]
Some lawmakers believe some criminals are beyond rehabilitation.
“Oh my God! Bigyan mo naman ang gobyerno ng option para patayin na yan. Satanas na yan ha,” Sub-Committee on Judicial Reforms Chairman Ching Veloso said. [Give the government an option to kill that person. He’s the devil.]
Lawmakers against the death penalty tried to block the bill’s passage.
Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-ao said most of the convicts would likely come from the poor.
“Hindi naman po si Satanas ang nahaharap, ordinaryong tao at karamihan po ay mahirap,” Bag-ao said. [It’s not the devil who will be facing it, it’s the ordinary people and most are poor.]
They say government should first address weaknesses in the criminal justice system before reinstating the death penalty.
They also questioned the lack of substance in the committee report.
“Kung titignan mo itong two-page report, it’s just a statement of title and committee hearings, kulang po talaga,” Bayan Muna Partylist Rep. Carlos Zarate said.
At the end of the day, the bill’s passage would depend on the number of supporters in Congress.
Watch: Senators try to tackle death penalty at probe
Limiting capital punishment to drug offenses only
The House leadership called for a caucus of the majority on Wednesday to know the sentiments of lawmakers on the bill.
Fariñas said most in the supermajority favor the death penalty for heinous crimes — but some voted against it, and a few were undecided.
He added many lawmakers want to limit capital punishment to drug-related offenses.
“They are open. Sa botohan kanina, and you can verify from them, mas marami ang open and in favor of the reimposition of the death penalty. Ang against, mas kokonti kesa sa in favor… Yung undecided and against, halos pareho sila,” Fariñas said.
[Translation: They are open. In the voting process, and you can verify it from other congressmen, many are open and are in favor of the reimposition of the death penalty. Those against are less than those who are in favor. The undecided and against are almost the same in number.]
Fariñas raised the possibility of including plunder in the list of heinous crimes.
“Pag nagusap na drugs muna, malaki unanimity. Pero I gave them the other side na if we limit it to drugs, walang plunder — e sino ba nagcocommit ng plunder, e diba tayong mga pulitiko or in office,” Fariñas said. “Siguro iconsider natin ilagay plunder. Idefine natin na maging heinous iyon para di masabi na pinoprotektahan natin yung kauri natin.”
[Translation: There’s more unanimity to tackle drugs first. But I gave them the other side that if we will limit it to drugs only, and there’s no plunder — who does commit plunder? It’s us politicians or those in office. Maybe we should consider including plunder. Let’s define it and include it as a heinous crime so that the public won’t say that we’re protecting our own kind.]
Also read: House eyeing death penalty for drug lord convicts
The majority leader said the issue will be debated when the bill is taken up in plenary next week before the Christmas break.
The lawmakers agreed voting should be done after the Christmas break.
Also read: VP Leni Robredo promises louder opposition to death penalty, extrajudicial killings
