Only death penalty could ‘bring shivers to the bones’ of wrongdoers — Barbers

House Committee on Dangerous Drugs chair Robert Ace Barbers on Wednesday maintained his support to the reimposition of death penalty, saying such is the only punishment that would "bring shivers to the bones" of wrongdoers.

Barbers made the remark as the House Committee on Justice resumed its deliberations on the pending death penalty bills at the House of Representatives, just over a week after President Rodrigo Duterte urged Congress to work on the revival of capital punishment during his fifth State of the Nation Address.

The panel was deliberating on 12 pending death penalty bills, six of which are for violations of RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

"I am for death penalty no matter who our president is. I believe this is the only penalty that would bring shivers to the bones of the evil doers," Barbers said in his remarks.

"[This is] the only deterrent to the commission of heinous crimes, the only thing that even the most hardened criminals fear," he added.

Barbers dismissed as "flawed" the argument of those who oppose the revival of death penalty that the punishment will only apply to poor people who cannot afford to get a lawyer.

"Lawyers are not the only ones inside the court, there are judges who see and observe the trial and who can propound questions to witnesses and can control the phase and direction of the trial, to see to it that justice is served," he said.

"The law provides that if the accused cannot get a lawyer, the judge can even appoint one for him. The Public Attorneys Office is there," he added.

Barbers also hit the claim of death penalty oppositors that the Philippines cannot reimpose death penalty due to its commitment to international agreements, and reviving capital punishment would be a violation of these treaties.

"The last time I checked we are still a sovereign nation. Last time I checked too, our Constitution allows death penalty," he said.

"No other nation can dictate how it runs its own government. It is free to chart its own destiny," he added.

Minority Leader Benny Abante Jr., who is the senior pastor at the Metropolitan Bible Baptist Ekklesia, also reiterated his support for death penalty as an advocacy he took up "in defense of human life, honor and dignity, preservation of peace and order in society, and respect for law and authority."

Contrary to the claims of oppositors, he said that death penalty "proceeds from justice, not rehabilitation, in behalf of the State and innocent victims," and is a "fair administration of justice."

"Maibabalik pa ba ang kanilang mga buhay o ang kanilang matinong pag-iisap? Pakikinabangan pa ba sila ng ating lipunan? Ginusto ba nila na sila ay maging biktima ng mga karumal-dumal na mga krimen?" he said.

"At ‘human rights’ po ba ng isang tao ang gumawa, magtulak, magbenta o gumamit ng ipinagbabawal na gamot na magtutulak sa isang tao upang pumatay, magnakaw o gumahasa, kahit anong edad ang biktima? O magwasak ng pamilya, ng tahanan, at lipunan?" he added.

Abante likewise maintained that death penalty is "not cruel neither costly," if going by the suggestion of the President of lethal injection. He added that it is "not immoral" as well, saying that God himself instituted death penalty for the crimes of murder, parricide, kidnapping, cursing of parents, and adultery, as stated in many verses in the Bible.

In calling for the return of capital punishment, Duterte said during his fifth SONA that the death penalty bill "will help us deter criminality and save our children posed by the illegal and dangerous drugs."

In the 17th Congress, House of Representatives approved on third and final reading House Bill 4727 which seeks to reimpose capital punishment on seven drug-related offenses.

The said bill, however, has not made significant progress in the Senate. — RSJ, GMA News