Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Senate President Koko Pimentel believes the death penalty bill will have stronger chances in the Senate – if only one crime would be punishable by death.
He says big-time high-level syndicated drug trafficking is the most serious crime that deserves capital punishment.
Pimentel said, “It has a chance. Close fight. I’m predicting anywhere between 14 -10 or 10-14 either way,” pointing out that reviving the death penalty is not in the Senate’s list of priority bills.
But Senate Majority Floor Leader Tito Sotto hinted a Senate counterpart bill may be passed in June.
Eleven senators have been vocal against the bill: the four Liberal party senators, their allies Risa Hontiveros and Sonny Trillanes, Chiz Escudero and Ralph Recto – who were formerly with the minority – Grace Poe, Nancy Binay, and the chairman of the Justice committee leading the hearing, Senator Dick Gordon.
Others have yet to voice their position while at least seven senators are supporting the death penalty: Pimentel and Allan Cayetano, the original proponent Majority Leader Tito Sotto, Win Gatchalian, Manny Pacquiao and Ping Lacson – who all filed similar bills – and Cynthia Villar.
But Villar herself says it’s still a numbers game in the Senate.
She said, “I don’t know if we will have enough votes. I heard some of them they’re really against death penalty.”
And while the Lower House seemingly rushed the legislative process, Senator Bam Aquino said the Senate must allow the proper proceedings to run their course, and ensure that a proper debate be conducted.
He said, “I’m really hoping na hindi ito magiging pulitika lang [this isn’t just politics]…I’m hoping that people can vote across party lines, can vote with their conscience.”
The Senate only had one committee hearing on the bill.
The committee did not hold other meetings after Senator Frank Drilon raised the issue of the country’s commitment to an international covenant stating that a signatory should not impose death penalty in its country.
He added, reviving the death penalty might boomerang on the country’s reputation.
But it looks like the Senate leadership is seeing it the other way.
Pimentel said, “Judgement call na namin yun. Do you want a good reputation or do you want a functional society?”
