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'Pro-life' Abante backs Duterte's call for death penalty vs. heinous crimes


Death Penalty Representative Benny Abante

House Minority Leader Benny Abante Jr., who proclaims himself as pro-life lawmaker, supported on Wednesday President Rodrigo Duterte’s call to restore the death penalty on drug-related offenses, and heinous crimes.

In a forum in Manila, Abante also noted that he will oppose death penalty if it covers more crimes other than drug trafficking, massacre, child rape, and rape-slay.

“I am actually pro-life. I would only allow the death penalty to be re-instituted on heinous crimes for example massacre or drug trafficking or the rape of a child,  or the rape with killing. Wala nang iba,” he said.

Abante also pointed out that there should be a reform in the justice system in the country if the death penalty will be restored.

In the same forum, Buhay party-list Representative Lito Atienza warned that the proposed restoration of capital punishment could be abused by rogue cops for extortion, and insisted that the police force should be reformed.

On Tuesday, Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) President Domingo Egon Cayosa pushed for the improvement in the delivery of justice in the country instead of reimposing the death penalty.

"What is more important is for our country, for our government to improve the delivery of justice. Meaning to say, take away the corruption in our justice system, take away the delay, take away the undue influence and the lack of personnel," Cayosa said.

During his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, President Rodrigo Duterte renewed his call for the passage of the death penalty for drug-related offenses. —LBG, GMA News

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