‘KAKALAMPAGIN KO NA SILA’

Bato to push for Senate hearings on revival of death penalty

Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa on Saturday revealed that 2019 went by without the Senate conducting a single hearing on proposed measures to revive the death penalty.

In a radio interview, Dela Rosa said he will ask the Senate justice committee, chaired by Senator Richard Gordon, to conduct Senate hearings not only on his proposal, Senate Bill 226, but also those of his other colleagues who had filed similar measures to reimpose capital punishment.

"Kakalampagin ko na mga kumite na may hawak sa aming pending bills sa death penalty. Di nagka-hearing buong 2019. Mangangalampag na kami para mabitay na drug lord," said the legislator.

Filed in July 2019, Dela Rosa's SB 226 seeks to revive the death penalty for illegal traffickers and manufacturers.

"Iyon bill ko limited sa drug trafficking. Di ko sinama lahat heinous crimes dahil masalimuot yan," he said on Saturday.

Three other similar bills are currently pending with the Senate, namely SB 189 by Senator Manny Pacquiao, SB 207 by Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, and SB 23 by Senator Panfilo Lacson.

Death penalty was abolished in the Philippines during the Arroyo administration. — MDM, GMA News