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PDEA: Imposing death penalty on those who destroy lives is ‘morally justified’


Drug traffickers and those who commit heinous crimes fueled by illegal drugs deserve the death penalty, which would also serve as a strong deterrent against such crimes, the head of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said.

“Foreign and local drug offenders, especially drug protectors and coddlers who were found guilty of manufacturing, trafficking and pushing of dangerous drugs, warrant the capital punishment,” PDEA chief Director General Aaron Aquino said Tuesday.

Aquino said death penalty must be reimposed in order to send a strong message to drug syndicates that the Philippines is not a “business hub” for illegal drugs.

The PDEA chief also said that life sentence as a punishment has its share of disadvantages.

“Besides the problem of overcrowding in jails, there are reports that several convicted drug lords are still involved in the illegal drug trade and continue to communicate with the outside world while in incarceration,” Aquino said.

Aquino denied that authorities are promoting a cycle of violence, arguing that it is "morally justified" to impose the death penalty on "people who seek to destroy the lives of Filipinos, most especially the youth."

"If you have done something evil, you have to pay," Aquino said.

In his recent State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Rodrigo Duterte called on Congress to reinstate the death penalty for drug-related crimes and plunder.

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

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

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