Death penalty bill for foreigners in drug trafficking revived

CAGAYAN de Oro second district Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez’s bill in Congress reviving the capital punishment for foreigners who would be found guilty in drug trafficking earns support from local residents and a civil society organization.

But the supporters want the bill to include Filipinos who would conspire with the heinous crime.

Lawyer Antonio Soriano, convenor, Citizens Watch for Good Governance, said House Bill 4510, which seeks to amend the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and include a portion for offenders who are foreign nationals, can be applicable also to Filipinos, who could then be used by aliens as frontrunners in illegal drugs trading.

Under the proposed bill “if the violator of any of the provisions of this act is an alien, the penalty to be imposed shall be the penalty prescribed by their national law.”

The bill imposes death penalty on foreign drug traffickers coming from countries which likewise implement death penalty.

But in a text message, Rodriguez said the bill, which he co-authored with his brother Abante Mindanao party list Rep. Maximo Rodriguez, “is based on international principles of reciprocity and equity.”

“So only foreigners will get death penalty. Filipinos used will get life imprisonment,” he said.

Rodriguez pointed out how the Philippine government has been left helpless in saving Filipinos facing death in countries imposing death penalty like China.

He said he is optimistic that the bill, which deliberation by the House Committee on dangerous drugs is scheduled in its next hearing, would be passed.

The proposed bill has undergone three hearings under the House committee on dangerous drugs and Rodriguez expects its passage when they next meet.

“Where the death penalty is not imposed, in addition to the penalties prescribed in the unlawful act committed, any alien who violates the said Act shall, after service of sentence, be deported immediately without further proceedings,” the bill states, adding: “The penalty of death, if applicable, shall be imposed despite the prohibition of the imposition of the death penalty in the Philippines.”

Rodriguez expressed disgust over foreigners that are flocking in the country bringing in illegal drugs “because they know that they cannot be persecuted.”

He said he is against death penalty, “but this is only for drug trafficking.”

Rodriguez said that foreigners are “disrespecting our country.”

“There’s always a distinction between Filipinos and foreigners. That is my stand,” he said.

Christian Enhambre, 22, a chef, and a resident of Sitio Calaanan, Canitoan, said “they (foreigners deserve such kind of punishment.”

“Dili man silbi balos adtong mga Pilipino nga gibitay didto sa gawas kay gihimo ug drug courier, pero mas maayo kay basta-bastahon lang nila ug sulod dire (Philippines),” he said.

Michael Ampalayohan, 25, a store owner and a member of a religious organization, said he cannot imagine how the Philippines could become five to 10 years from now should these foreigners are not penalized with this kind of punishment.

Drug trafficking and plunder

Soriano even said that the congressman must also include in his bill the plunder, aside from the drug trafficking, “because its effects are the same.”

“Parehas ra man ug epekto ning duha, kadautan sa mga tawo,” Soriano said, even as he lambasted Janet Lim-Napoles who is known as the “pork barrel queen” which controversy involved P10-billion scam.

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