Duterte ‘most likely’ to certify death penalty bill as urgent — Palace

President Rodrigo Duterte will “most likely” certify as urgent the bill seeking to reimpose the death penalty for crimes related to illegal drugs and plunder in order to expedite its passage, Malacañang said Tuesday.

Duterte’s spokesperson Salvador Panelo issued the statement after the President asked Congress during his fourth State of the Nation Address on Monday to legislate one of his campaign promises.

“Given na sinabi niya iyon sa SONA, most likely [it will be certified as urgent],” Panelo said at a news conference.

“Ang feeling ni Presidente ‘yan ang pinakamabigat na problema natin. One is corruption; number two, is iyong sa droga kaya siguro mas gusto niya iyon – hoping that it will mitigate the upsurge of this drug menace as well as the plunderous activities of the plunderers.”

Panelo reiterated that Duterte prefers death penalty by hanging.

“Kung tatanungin mo siya, walang gastos eh ano na lubid,” he said.

The death penalty was abolished during the presidency of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, a key Duterte ally, in 2006.

The House of Representatives in the 17th Congress approved on third and final reading the death penalty bill, but it did not make significant progress in the Senate.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Senator Aquilino Pimentel III said on Monday that the proposal would have a bigger chance of approval if it will be limited to drug trafficking.

They said the proposed measure might face opposition if it will include other crimes. — RSJ, GMA News