Robin Padilla seeks death penalty vs. law enforcers, elected officials involved in illegal drugs

Senator Robin Padilla has filed a bill seeking to impose capital punishment to officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police or other law enforcement agencies and elected officials who are involved in illegal drugs.

In filing Senate Bill 2217, Padilla noted that the prevalence of the illegal drug problem has persisted through the years and that the seriousness of the drug problem “has reached the very core of our law enforcement.”

“It is the duty of the government to guarantee the safety of the people, and hence, protect society from the ills of illegal drugs. The present law has demonstrated its futility to deter offenses relating to drugs. Our law’s leniency has brought to this sorry state of affairs where law enforcers are not unafraid to be involved in illegal drugs. The situation is dire which requires our government to respond with a staunch and decisive measure: the law must be changed,” Paddila said.

‘To reinstate the rule of law and rebuild the trust of the Filipino people, we must re-impose the death penalty as a strong deterrent to grave offenders” of the AFP, PNP, any unformed or law enforcement agency or an elective official who are entrusted with the public power by the people.

Under his proposed measure filed on May 18, any elective local or national official found to have benefited from the proceeds of drug trafficking or received financial or material contributions or donations from those found guilty of trafficking dangerous drugs shall suffer the penalty of death without prejudice to removal from office and perpetually disqualified from holding government positions.

Padilla’s bill suspends the execution of capital punishment to a woman while she is pregnant or within one year after delivery, or any person over 70 years of age.

Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who advocates for the reimposition of death penalty against drug traffickers, lamented the lack of support from his colleagues.

“Every Congress na lang fina-file natin yan but hindi gumagana kasi nakikita natin na we cannot have the numbers. Iilan lang naman ang mga pro-death penalty d’yan lalong-lalo na sa nangyaring shabu na ito, mabilang mo lang sa fingers kung ilan ang gusto mag-death penalty,” Dela Rosa said, referring to the controversial 990-kilogram shabu haul in Manila last year.

At least four measures seeking the reimposition of capital punishment in the country have been filed in the Senate.

Last week, Padilla also filed a bill seeking to impose death penalty against officers of the Bureau of Customs, PNP, AFP or any law enforcement agency who will be found conniving with agricultural smugglers. — Hana Bordey/RSJ, GMA Integrated News