Jee Ick Joo slay a good argument for death penalty, says Recto

Senate Minority Leader Ralph Recto on Thursday said the killing of kidnapped South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo could strengthen the argument for the reimposition of death penalty.

“Cruelty and impunity inflicted in crimes like the one that victimized the Korean is beginning to define what a super heinous crime that may be punishable by death is,” Recto said.

"In terms of how dastardly a crime is, we are seeing examples of a higher bar in which death penalty, in the eyes of its advocates, could be imposed," he said.

On Tuesday, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said it has located the remains of Jee in a funeral home in Caloocan City.

Recto, the head of the three-member Senate minority bloc, said victims of complex crimes could be a “powerful emotional argument” in the debate on the death penalty law, which is being pushed by the Duterte administration.

He believes the debate on such proposal will focus on whether it should be implemented for “super heinous” and “truly atrocious” crimes.

"Kung Noah's Ark of crimes punishable by death, hindi papasa. Pero kung limited sa super heinous, na blood curdling, truly atrocious complex crimes, diyan magkakatalo,” Recto said.

The senator argued a death penalty bill should be complemented with legislative efforts to modernize the police force and reform the judicial system.

"The certainty of arrest and conviction is a better deterrent against crime,” Recto said. —NB, GMA News