Duterte urges Congress to reimpose death penalty

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday reiterated his call for Congress to reimpose death penalty for crimes related to drugs and plunder.

During his fourth State of the Nation Address, Duterte recalled the experience during the five-month Marawi siege, claiming that drug money killed 175 and wounded more than 2,000 soldiers and policemen.

He said he recognize that the government has a long way to go in curbing illegal drug use, which he described as "social menace."

"That's the reason why I advocate the imposition of the death penalty for crimes related to illegal drugs," Duterte said.

Duterte said that the while the public has done its part in resolving the drug problem, there is still a need to solve corruption, which he said allows drugs to proliferate.

"The drugs will not be crushed unless we continue to eliminate corruption that allows the social monster to survive," he said.

"I respectfully request Congress to reinstate the death penalty for heinous crimes related to drugs as well as plunder," he added.

The House of Representatives in the previous Congress approved on third and final reading the death penalty bill, but it did not make significant progress in the Senate. — BM, GMA News