Death penalty still not a priority for Senate – Pimentel

The death penalty bill is still not included in the Senate’s list of priority measures, Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said Monday.

Pimentel assured the House of Representatives, however, that the said proposal will be discussed in the current second regular session.

“As the Senate President, this bill was submitted by the House; so I think we owe it as a gesture of friendship to the House that since they passed it, that means they want us also to discuss it,” Pimentel said in an interview.

“So hanggang doon na lang. I will assure the House that we will discuss the death penalty bill...[But] not [as a] priority, in the regular course of business [only],” he said.

Last March, the administration-controlled House of Representatives approved the reimposition of the death penalty on third and final reading.

House Bill No. 4727, which seeks to reimpose capital punishment on seven drug-related offenses, sailed past third and final reading with a vote of 217 against 54 and one abstention.

Seven death penalty proposals are still pending at the Senate justice committee chaired by Senator Richard Gordon. Gordon himself is against the said proposals.

The House of Representatives and the Senate must agree on all provisions of a death penalty proposal before it is sent to Malacañang for the President's signature.

The Senate's priorities for its second year, according to Pimentel, are the approval of the tax reform package, the Bangsamoro Basic Law, Charter change, anti-terrorism laws, and the proposed national ID system.

"We will pursue the path to lasting peace in Mindanao by addressing the valid concerns of our Muslim brothers and sisters through the Basic Bangsamoro Law," Pimentel said in his remarks before the opening of session.

Pimentel also mentioned the proposed Universal Health Care Act as one of the priorities.

Pimentel, meanwhile, urged his colleagues to work harder, citing the recent approval and trust ratings of the Senate, making them the "most trusted institution."

Present in the opening of the session were Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia, Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, and Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano. — RSJ, GMA News