(MANILA BULLETIN)

Cagayan de Oro City 2nd district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez is proposing a bold response to China’s recent execution of two Filipinos for drug-related offenses. 

The response that the veteran lawmaker wants is a tit-for-tat; basically, an eye for an eye. 

“If they put our compatriots to death for violations connected to illegal drugs, let us do the same to their nationals, many of whom are caught manufacturing, peddling or smuggling drugs into the country,” he said in a statement Monday, Dec. 4. 

Rodriguez said most of the drug law violators caught by local authorities are Chinese. 

“Many of them are even able to get away with their crimes because of connections in high places and, of course, bribery,” added the chairman of the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments. 

He said it is not fair that Filipinos get the death penalty in China, while Chinese nationals involved in illegal drugs in the Philippines suffer only life imprisonment. 

He said drug traffickers and other criminals in China and other countries where the death penalty is imposable “go to the Philippines to pursue their nefarious activities because they know that if they are convicted, they can enjoy life in prison and even continue their illegal pursuits there". 

But for the Philippines to execute criminals--their nationality notwithstanding--Congress must first revive capital punishment through legislation. 

Death penalty in the country was abolished way back in 2006 during the time of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. 

As such, the Rodriguez called on Congress to immediately pass his measure, House Bill (HB) No. 2459, filed on July 27, 2022. 

The measure is titled, “An Act adopting the higher prescribed penalty, including death, of the national law of an alien found guilty of trafficking dangerous drugs and other similar substances, amending for the purpose Republic Act (RA) No. 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.” 

HAVE YOU READ THIS? 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/12/4/china-execution-of-2-pinoys-galvanizes-pro-death-penalty-solon-barbers

Under the bill, a foreigner convicted of a drug offense by a local court would be meted out the death penalty if such punishment is imposable for the same crime in his home country. 

Rodriguez has been a constant critic of Chinese bullying and harassment of Filipino fishermen and troops in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). 

China carried out the executions and many others in past years despite repeated pleas from the Philippine government, international human rights groups and countries advocating respect life and human rights. 

“While we do not question the laws of China and other countries, we must ensure that our countrymen do not suffer the short end of the stick. As such, there is a need to amend our laws to make sure that foreigners caught violating our statutes on drugs get the harshest penalties that their laws impose,” he said.