Bato dela Rosa: Death penalty would deter gov't execs from committing corruption

Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said Thursday the revival of the death penalty in the country would deter government officials from committing corruption, as the Senate resumed its probe into the anomalous flood control projects.

“So, mas maganda na meron tayong death penalty. Coming from his mouth,” Dela Rosa said during the continuing hearing of the Senate blue ribbon committee.

(It’s better if we have the death penalty. Coming from the Former Department of Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo’s mouth.)

“Umamin na siya nagkakasala, gumawa siya ng kalokohan pero kung meron tayong death penalty, hindi niya gagawin yun dahil matakot siya,” he added.  

(He admitted to his wrongdoings, but if we have the death penalty, he would not do it because he is sacred.)

Dela Rosa has asked Bernardo if he would engage in corruption if the death penalty were in effect in the country.

“Palagay ko po maraming matatakot tagala dun. Hindi ko masasabi na mawawala totally pero tiyak na mababawasan (I think many would be afraid. I cannot say it would disappear, but definitely it would decrease),” Bernardo replied.

New Bilibid Prison or death penalty?

At one point during the hearing, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, also the blue ribbon committee chairman, asked Dela Rosa in jest if he would choose to be detained at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City rather than face the death penalty.

“Pipiliiin ko Muntinlupa. Sa Muntilupa, pwede ka pa magnegosyo dun. Yung iba nga dun nag nenegosyo ng shabu. Drug lord pa rin ngayon,” Dela Rosa replied, which drew laughter in the hearing. 

(I chose Muntinlupa. There, I can operate a business. Some even have a shabu business. He is still a drug lord.)

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III then moved to strike Dela Rosa’s statement from the record.

In 2014, convicted drug lords were alleged to operate drug-related activities from the New Bilibid Prison.

Earlier in the hearing, Bernardo admitted to being complicit in anomalies in certain flood control projects.

Dela Rosa has filed a measure seeking to restore the death penalty in the country for the crime of plunder, where he cited the recent investigations into the anomalous flood control projects in his explanatory note for the bill, emphasizing that individuals found guilty of plunder should face capital punishment. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News