By Argyll Cyrus Geducos
Malacañang said that it will be up to the Congress to decide on how they will act on President Duterte's appeal to them on Monday to restore death penalty on heinous crimes related to illegal drugs and plunder.
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo
(OPS / MANILA BULLETIN) Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo made the statement after it was reported that Senators expressed that chances to reinstate capital punishment is lower because Duterte wants to include plunder in the list of crimes punishable under death penalty. In an interview, Panelo said that Duterte already made his idea known and it is now up to Congress to act on it. "He doesn't cajole, he doesn't urge, he doesn't influence, yun ang (That's his) style. Basta, he makes his position, bahala na sila (it's now up to them)," he said. "They can always find it as a very interesting subject of debate," he added. On Monday, President Duterte renewed his appeal to Congress to restore the death penalty to curb illegal drugs and corruption in government---two things that his administration has been fighting since the start of his term. "It has been three years since I took my oath of office and it pains me to say that we have not learned our lesson. The illegal drug problem persists, corruption continues and emasculates the courage we need to sustain our moral recovery initiatives," he said. According to the President, the Marawi siege, which he said was funded by drug money, is one of the reasons why he is advocating for the reimposition of capital punishment. He also recognized the help of the local communities in the drug war but said it will not be enough to truly end the drug trade unless corruption is eradicated as well. "The drugs will not be crushed unless we continue to eliminate corruption that allows the social monster to survive," Duterte said. "I respectfully request congress to reinstate the death penalty for heinous crimes related to drugs as well as plunder," he added. President Duterte has been pushing for the restoration of capital punishment in the country. However, the public has criticized the Congress after the House Majority bloc decided to exclude plunder, rape, and treason from the list of the crimes punishable with death. The exclusion is reportedly to help them arrive at a compromise after some lawmakers remained hesitant about voting in favor of House Bill No. 4727. Earlier, Malacañang said that the reimposition of capital punishment is an important component in keeping a crime-free and drug-free Philippines.
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo(OPS / MANILA BULLETIN) Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo made the statement after it was reported that Senators expressed that chances to reinstate capital punishment is lower because Duterte wants to include plunder in the list of crimes punishable under death penalty. In an interview, Panelo said that Duterte already made his idea known and it is now up to Congress to act on it. "He doesn't cajole, he doesn't urge, he doesn't influence, yun ang (That's his) style. Basta, he makes his position, bahala na sila (it's now up to them)," he said. "They can always find it as a very interesting subject of debate," he added. On Monday, President Duterte renewed his appeal to Congress to restore the death penalty to curb illegal drugs and corruption in government---two things that his administration has been fighting since the start of his term. "It has been three years since I took my oath of office and it pains me to say that we have not learned our lesson. The illegal drug problem persists, corruption continues and emasculates the courage we need to sustain our moral recovery initiatives," he said. According to the President, the Marawi siege, which he said was funded by drug money, is one of the reasons why he is advocating for the reimposition of capital punishment. He also recognized the help of the local communities in the drug war but said it will not be enough to truly end the drug trade unless corruption is eradicated as well. "The drugs will not be crushed unless we continue to eliminate corruption that allows the social monster to survive," Duterte said. "I respectfully request congress to reinstate the death penalty for heinous crimes related to drugs as well as plunder," he added. President Duterte has been pushing for the restoration of capital punishment in the country. However, the public has criticized the Congress after the House Majority bloc decided to exclude plunder, rape, and treason from the list of the crimes punishable with death. The exclusion is reportedly to help them arrive at a compromise after some lawmakers remained hesitant about voting in favor of House Bill No. 4727. Earlier, Malacañang said that the reimposition of capital punishment is an important component in keeping a crime-free and drug-free Philippines.