Palma to convince solons to vote vs ‘death’ bill

CEBU, Philippines - Archbishop Jose Palma will talk to Cebuano representatives who are pushing for the reimposition of death penalty in hopes of changing their stance on the controversial measure.

Palma issued the statement after the House of Representatives approved the bill on second reading on Wednesday.

For the 66-year-old prelate, death is not the answer to crime. Rather, it will only result to many poor Filipinos getting executed since they do not have the means to find good lawyers to back their cases.

He said he will discuss the bill with legislators to hopefully convince them to have a change of heart. However, he said he will respect whatever their decision will be.

Abolished almost 11 years ago during the term of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the death penalty is being restored by administration allies at the Lower House, prompted by President Duterte’s cry against the worsening illegal drug problem in the country.

Condemned criminals will be put to death either by electrocution, hanging or firing squad, according to the bill.

Via “viva voce” or votes taken by word of mouth, the bill was approved on second reading on Wednesday evening, with more lawmakers saying “aye” than those saying “nay.” Amendments to the bill pushed by anti-death penalty lawmakers were repeatedly rejected by the super majority.

Specifically, the bill seeks death for the following drug-related crimes: importation of dangerous drugs and/or controlled precursors and essential chemicals; sale, trading administration, dispensation, delivery, distribution and transportation of dangerous drugs; maintenance of a den, dive or resort; manufacture or dangerous drugs and/or controlled precursors and essential chemicals; and planting drugs as evidence.

Also punishable are qualifying aggravating circumstances in the commission of a crime by an offender under the influence of drugs (if the crime committed under the influence of drugs is punishable by reclusion temporal or higher, the penalty to be imposed shall be reclusion perpetua to death).

A public officer or employee guilty of misappropriation, misapplication or failure to account for the confiscated, seized and/or surrendered dangerous drugs, plant sources of dangerous drugs, controlled precursors and essential chemicals, instruments/paraphernalia and/or laboratory equipment, including the proceeds or properties obtained from the unlawful act committed, shall also face execution.

Cebu Representatives Red Durano (5th District) and Gerald Anthony Gullas (1st District) believe imposing death on criminals will be a good deterrent to crime.

“We could never say that it had no long-term effect on our crime rate considering that its imposition a few years ago was short-lived. We must give this measure a chance if only to help curb criminality in the country,” Durano said in a text message to The FREEMAN.

Gullas, for his part, said that although he would have wanted to incorporate more crimes into the bill, he is still pushing for its passing, also seeing it as a preventive measure against criminality.

“So as part of the leadership as deputy majority leader, I voted for its passage,” he said.

Representatives Wilfredo Caminero (2nd District), Gwendolyn Garcia (3rd District), Benhur Salimbangon (4th District) and Aileen Radaza (Lapu-Lapu City Lone District) all did not respond to The FREEMAN’s calls and text messages last night.

Representative Raul del Mar (Cebu City North District), who has been vocal about his position against the proposal, said: “My position is no death penalty for any crime at all for reasons already explained. Even if there's only one single crime punishable with death penalty.”

Meanwhile, Representatives Rodrigo Abellanosa (Cebu City South District) and Jonas Cortes (6th District) were still undecided.

Abellanosa said he did not give a clear "voice vote" when the members of the House were called to say either "nay" or "aye" during the voting, though he heard the nays louder.

"It will not be my personal stand but the stand of my constituents, as I have said it before," he said.

Abellanosa said he will conduct a public consultation with residents of his district in the coming days so he could get the feel of what his constituents want.

The public consultation, he said, will be the basis for his vote once they will be called to act on the bill on its third and final reading.

Like Abellanosa, Cortes will also consult his constituents first before making a decision for or against the bill.

At the Cebu City Hall, officials have also joined the debate.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña said he was amenable to the exclusion of plunder, treason and rape from the bill, as long as drug-related criminalities are given priority.

“You know why we have Congress? We have Congress because we realign those things that were not perfect. Basta as (long as) death penalty is there for drugs, that’s fine with me,” he said, although he would have preferred plunder to be part of the bill.

“When you steal billions from the government, it costs lives. You prevent people from surviving, you prevent people from living, and you deprive them of that. You should be executed,” Osmeña said.

Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella was against the revival of capital punishment but if it gets passed into law, the three crimes, he said, should be included.

“Plunder should be the number one crime (to be punished). Rape also is another thing, especially when a child is involved,” he said.

The nominal voting on the polarizing measure will take place during the third and final reading before Congress goes on a break on March 17. — Rowena D. Capistrano, Jean Marvette A. Demecillo, Kristine B. Quintas, Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon, Dale G. Israel and Odessa O. Leyson (FREEMAN)