Death penalty discussion could be 'unnecessary distraction' amid COVID-19 pandemic —Biazon

Discussing the reimposition of death penalty amid the COVID-19 pandemic may only be an "unnecessary distraction" in the efforts to fight the deadly disease that currently afflicts the country, Muntinlupa City Representative Ruffy Biazon said Wednesday.

During the meeting of House committee on justice, Biazon asked panel chair Vicente Veloso III to exclude from their deliberations his House Bill 741, one of the 12 bills seeking to restore death penalty for heinous crimes.

Biazon explained that he has "reservations" on the timing of the discussion on the death penalty bills, especially that the country is faced with the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I believe that at this point, a contentious social issue such as death penalty may be an unnecessary distraction in the effort to consolidate public and private sector support and focus against the pandemic," he said.

"A socially and politically divisive debate on death penalty will be detrimental to the Heal as One mantra. The public expects Congress to give priority to measures that directly address the public health emergency we are currently facing," he added.

Biazon also stressed the importance of strengthening the government's investigative and evidence-gathering capability as a prerequisite in pursuing the revival of death penalty.

"I believe that this investigation tool will contribute to strengthening cases against drug traffickers particularly those in the high levels of drug syndicates and negate the argument that the innocent could become victims of injustice and be subject to capital punishment," he said.

Moreover, Biazon said he is expecting intense and passionate debates on the death penalty issue, and so its venue should not be constrained by limitations brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The lawmaker pointed out that from his first term as congressman, he has consistently pushed for a law that would impose capital punishment especially for high-level drug traffickers, saying it is "the appropriate and commensurate penalty for those who benefit from the ruin, misery and death in people's lives."

"However, I also believe that there's a time for everything even in legislation. With two more years remaining in the mandate of the 18th Congress and the term of the President, I believe there is still time for the consideration of the bill after the pandemic has been placed under control or has died down," he added.

The resumption of the House justice panel deliberations on the death penalty bills came a little 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.

Duterte said the revival of 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.—AOL, GMA News