MANILA, Philippines - The Arroyos in the House of Representatives are seeking heavier penalties, including death, for carjackers.
They also want that the right to bail be denied to car theft suspects.
In making these proposals, detained former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and son Diosdado, who represents Camarines Sur’s second district, expressed alarm over the rising incidence of carjacking.
In some cases, they said it is not only the vehicles that are lost but the lives of the vehicle owners as well.
“The sense of security one feels inside his or her vehicle i5s now severely undermined. Worse, the crime of car theft is not just an end to itself. Oftentimes, stolen vehicles are used to commit other crimes such as bank robberies, murder, kidnapping and even terrorist activities,†they said.
The Arroyos added that while there are existing laws penalizing carjacking, it appears these are