Senator Christopher “Bong” Go is willing to refile in the 19th Congress a measure reinstating the death penalty for certain heinous crimes in the country.

Go, chairman of the Senate Health Committee, introduced Senate Bill (SB) 207, which seeks to reinstate capital punishment for illegal drugs and plunder in July 2019.

The bill, however, failed to prosper in the 18th Congress, which adjourned sine die last June 1.

“Anyway we can file it again if we want. Itong (This) SB 207, reinstating the death penalty for certain heinous crimes involving dangerous drugs and plunder,” said Go in an ambush interview after his monitoring visit of the Malasakit Center at the Davao Oriental Provincial Medical Center in Mati City.

Go emphasized that the reinstatement of the death penalty is in line with President Duterte's crusade against illegal drugs, criminality, and corruption.

He emphasized that the bill, if enacted into law, could discourage criminal activities.

“‘Pag bumalik po ang droga, babalik na naman po ang korapsyon at kriminalidad (Corruption and criminality follow the return of illegal drugs. Kasi makokorap na naman ‘yung tao ‘pag nandyan ‘yung droga (People get corruption when there are drugs),’’ he said.

Under Go's bill, plunder, or the illegal acquisition of wealth by a public officer with an aggregate amount of at least P50 million, will be punishable by death.

Drug-related crimes will also be subject to capital punishment. These specifically refer to the importation, distribution and possession of dangerous drugs or essential chemicals; the maintenance of dens for related activities; the cultivation of illicit narcotic plants; the unlawful prescription of dangerous drugs; the misapplication of confiscated drugs by public officers; and the planting of evidence.

Go maintained that the Duterte administration’s campaign against corruption, illegal drugs, and crime improved the peace and order in the country and allowed communities and businesses to flourish.

According to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency's (PDEA’s) real numbers report as of March 2022, a total of 14,888 high-value targets have been captured since the drug war began in July 2016.

Authorities have also seized illegal drugs worth P88.83 billion across the country, including P76.17 billion worth of "shabu" (meth).

Despite these gains, Go advised the government not to rest on its laurels and instead step up its campaign against these “ills of society”, adding that he will continue to push for the measure in the Senate.