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Bato expects Duterte to urge death penalty for drug trafficking in 5th SONA


President Rodrigo Duterte may encourage lawmakers to impose the death penalty for illegal drug traffickers when he lays down his legislative agenda in his upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA), according to his ally Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa on Tuesday.

"I hope he will encourage the Congress to pass the death penalty law for drug trafficking," Dela Rosa, a former chief of the Philippine National Police, said in a message.

The senator previously said he wants a firing squad for convicted drug traffickers.

"Dapat gawing public [execution], para matakot ang mamamayan, para 'di pamarisan. Firing squad sa plaza, live [telecast], covered by the media... Para makita ng taumbayan na hindi tayo dapat gumawa niyo. Magiging deterrent 'yan," he said.

Chairing the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, Dela Rosa also said in January that he would push for Senate hearings on the revival of death penalty.

Capital punishment was abolished in the Philippines during the Arroyo administration.

In assessing the President's leadership in the past four years, Dela Rosa said Duterte's "strongman leadership is the right antidote to stubborn Filipinos."

Duterte is set to deliver his fifth SONA on July 27. — BM, GMA News

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