[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

Sept. 10



PHILIPPINES:

For drug trafficking: Death penalty return pushed


Senator Vicente Sotto III is seeking for the re-imposition of capital 
punishment, especially on drug trafficking.

Speaking before delegates to the 5th National Convention of the Philippine 
Society of Industrial Security at Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino last 
Friday, Sotto said he will re-file the bill re-imposing death penalty which he 
authored during the 9th Congress.

“I will (move to) reimpose the death penalty for drug trafficking. Right now we 
are still on the debate on how to go about it kasi marami na ang kumukontra. 
Pagka dinamay naman yong ibang crimes, mahihirapan ako, kapag drug trafficking 
lang, may pag-asa ho,” Sotto said.

The bill of Sotto, who chairs the Senate committee on dangerous drugs, deals 
mainly with drug trafficking.

In 2006, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed a law abolishing Republic Act 
No. 7659, otherwise known as the Death Penalty Law.

During the convention’s open forum, a participant said in some countries like 
China, imposition of death penalty through public executions has been effective 
in anti-drug campaign.

One of the reasons Sotto cited in pushing for the re-imposition of death 
penalty is the proliferation of illegal drugs in the country.

Sotto, however, said his bill has met a lot of oppositions when it was referred 
to the committee after a lot of insertions have been made to include other 
heinous crimes.

“This is the only crime in the world where the victim is a criminal and the 
criminal is the victim. Lahat na ibang krimen, maliwanag kung sino ang kriminal 
at biktima,” Sotto added.

Originally abolished in 1987, the death penalty was reintroduced in 1993. Since 
then, at least seven people had been executed.

Opposition

But Cebu City officials are not in favor of the move restoring the death 
penalty, saying it is a violation of the Constitution.

Mayor Michael Rama, who arrives today from his official trip to Xiamen, China, 
said he is against the restoration of death penalty.

Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young said being imprisoned is enough punishment for 
criminals.

“I don’t think I am in favor of restoring the death penalty law because I think 
that being in our prison is worst punishment,” Young told The FREEMAN in a text 
message.

Councilor Edgardo Labella, a lawyer, said he is also strongly against the 
re-imposition of the death penalty.

“Our judicial system is not perfect, it is for this concern that I am against 
the death penalty. There is a danger that we may put to death an innocent man. 
An innocent accused could be convicted and put to death if not ably assisted by 
a good lawyer,” Labella said.

When asked about the issue, south district Rep. Tomas Osmeña said he would just 
listen to all the arguments from both sides.

Section 19 (1) of the Bill of Rights provides that “excessive fines nor cruel, 
degrading or inhuman punishment inflicted shall not be imposed against any 
convicts in the country, unless for compelling reasons involving heinous 
crimes.”

In 1988, the military started lobbying for the imposition of capital 
punishment.

Then Armed Forces Chief of Staff Fidel Ramos was among those calling for the 
reintroduction of the death penalty for rebellion, murder and drug trafficking.

(source: Philippine Star)