The chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Dangerous Drugs on Wednesday appealed to the Senate leadership to prioritize the passage of a bill restoring death penalty on drug-related crimes and offenses.
Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, the panel chairman and one of the principal authors of death penalty bill, said he believes capital punishment for serious, drug-related offense, is an effective deterrent as “death is the only language that criminals and big-time syndicates and criminals understand.”
He said the bill’s enactment will prevent more deaths and crimes brought about by substance abuse.
“What are we waiting for, more deaths and crimes brought about by substance abuse? A whole nation of drug addicts? A narco-state? The future of our children is already compromised as it is. Are we waiting for them to turn addicts or victims of drug-related crimes? Please listen to the deafening silence of our children,” said Barbers as his panel, together with the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, resumed its investigation into the controversial shabu shipment that slipped past the ports of Manila.
In appealing for the Senate’s support to his measure, Barbers said that “the future of our children is already compromised as it is.”
Barbers lamented that criminals and big-time syndicates remain due to the supposed “lack of implementation of the laws” and “the lack of the deterrent effect of the penalties.”
“I would therefore take this opportunity to appeal to the Senate to pass the Death Penalty Bill that has been approved by this House. This is the only legislation that is apt for these crimes that keep on happening,” Barbers said.
In March 2017, the House approved on third and final reading Barbers’ House Bill 4727 by a 216-54, with one abstention.
From an initial list of 21 crimes that included rape, treason and plunder, the House leadership decided to limit death penalty to drug-related crimes and offenses to ensure the consensus of House members belonging to the majority.