PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will most likely certify as urgent a measure seeking the re-imposition of death penalty for drug-related offenses and plunder, Malacañang said on Tuesday, July 23.
"Given that sinabi niya 'yun sa Sona (Given that Duterte mentioned it in his Sona), most likely, [he will certify the death penalty bill as urgent]," Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo told Palace reporters.
"Ang feeling ni Presidente, 'yan ang pinakamabigat na problema natin. One is corruption. Number two is 'yung sa droga. Kaya siguro mas gusto niya 'yun, hoping that it will mititgate the upsurge of this drug menace as well as the plunderous activities of the plunderers," he added.
(The President feels that the most pressing issues the country is facing are one, corruption, and two, illegal drugs. That's why perhaps, he wants that, hoping that it will mitigate the upsurge of this drug menace as well as the plunderous activities of the plunderers.)
Panelo said Duterte may want the reimposition of death penalty through lethal injection.
Duterte, in his fourth State of the Nation Address (Sona), renewed his call to Congress to restore the capital punishment in the country to thwart the proliferation of illegal drugs and corruption in government.
Illegal drugs and corruption in government are the two problems that the Duterte administration has been fighting since 2016.
Duterte's allies at the Senate, Senators Christopher Lawrence Go and Emmanuel Pacquiao, filed separate measures on July 2, which both seek to impose death penalty for drug-related offenses and plunder.
Panelo, however, said the President's proposal still needs Congress's approval.
"Again, depende 'yun sa Congress. Sila naman ang nagde-decide. He is to suggest. Sa tingin niya mas makakatulong 'yun (Again, it depends on Congress. They will be the one to decide. He is to decide. He thinks the revival of death penalty can help the country)," Panelo said.
"As a general rule, ayaw nga natin ng death penalty, 'di ba sabi ng Constitution (the Constitution states we do not allow death penalty) unless Congress passes a law (that) allows it," he added. (SunStar Philippines)