House bill seeks penalties for use of ‘drug mules’
A bill has been filed at the House of Representatives seeking to penalize persons who use another person to transport drugs to other countries.
Marikina Rep. Romero Quimbo filed the Anti-Drug Mule Bill (House Bill 4503) on Wednesday, the same day three Filipinos convicted of drug trafficking in China were executed through lethal injection.
“This scheme preys on the vulnerability of many of our poverty-stricken countrymen, mostly overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), and, like cancer, attaches itself to their hopes of earning enough to return to their families only to lead them to their deaths and destruction," Quimbo said in a statement Thursday.
The measure seeks to include the use or attempt to use drug mules as one of the punishable acts under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (Republic Act 9165).
The bill defines a drug mule as “a person used by another person, with or without the former’s consent or knowledge, to transport dangerous drugs, of whatever amount and nature, from or through the Philippines to other countries, foreign states, foreign territories or foreign jurisdictions."
If passed into law, a person who “shall use, attempt to use or conspire with any other person to use drug mules" will be penalized with life imprisonment and a fine ranging from P5 million to P25 million.
The bill is expected to undergo committee deliberations once the chamber resumes sessions in May.
On Wednesday, three Filipinos—Ramon Credo, Sally Ordinario-Villanueva and Elizabeth Batain—were executed in China after they were found guilty of drug trafficking by Chinese courts. - Andreo Calonzo/KBK, GMA News
Marikina Rep. Romero Quimbo filed the Anti-Drug Mule Bill (House Bill 4503) on Wednesday, the same day three Filipinos convicted of drug trafficking in China were executed through lethal injection.
“This scheme preys on the vulnerability of many of our poverty-stricken countrymen, mostly overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), and, like cancer, attaches itself to their hopes of earning enough to return to their families only to lead them to their deaths and destruction," Quimbo said in a statement Thursday.
The measure seeks to include the use or attempt to use drug mules as one of the punishable acts under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (Republic Act 9165).
The bill defines a drug mule as “a person used by another person, with or without the former’s consent or knowledge, to transport dangerous drugs, of whatever amount and nature, from or through the Philippines to other countries, foreign states, foreign territories or foreign jurisdictions."
If passed into law, a person who “shall use, attempt to use or conspire with any other person to use drug mules" will be penalized with life imprisonment and a fine ranging from P5 million to P25 million.
The bill is expected to undergo committee deliberations once the chamber resumes sessions in May.
On Wednesday, three Filipinos—Ramon Credo, Sally Ordinario-Villanueva and Elizabeth Batain—were executed in China after they were found guilty of drug trafficking by Chinese courts. - Andreo Calonzo/KBK, GMA News
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