Sotto, Pimentel: Death penalty will have a better chance if limited to drug trafficking

Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Senator Aquilino Pimentel III expressed belief Monday that the proposal to reimpose death penalty would have a bigger chance of approval if it will be limited to one heinous crime — drug trafficking.

“I was glad that he did not particularly center on what type because we are looking at the possibility of the Senate being able to pass it if it is confined to high level drug trafficking only,” Sotto told reporters.

He said if plunder would be included, other senators might oppose it.

“We will try to convince some of our colleagues. It’s a heavy debate but we just have to work on it,” he said.

Pimentel said the proposed measure will face an uphill climb if it will include other crimes.

“That expands the coverage so sa proponents ng death penalty this is all I can say, as soon as you expand the coverage to more than one heinous crime, then you will have a more uphill climb,” he said in a separate interview.

He said: “If you limit it to one heinous crime then there is a big possibility it can pass. The more crimes you add, the more you alienate some legislators, the more you lose support for the initiative.”

Senator Risa Hontiveros, for his part, said the minority bloc will oppose any move to revive death penalty.

“Hindi talaga epektibong deterrent ang death penalty kahit na anong klaseng krimen. Ang tutuong deterrent sa krimen ay yung pagsasaayos ng ating criminal justice system, yung kasiguruhang mahuhuli ang suspected criminal, mapo-prosecute siya, at mako-convict,” she said.

President Rodrigo Duterte, in his fourth State of the Nation Address, reiterated his call for Congress to reimpose death penalty for crimes related to drugs and plunder. —LDF, GMA News