Since he does not believe that the death penalty is a deterrent to the commission of heinous crimes, Senator Richard Gordon will not support the capital punishment even if it is approved by his committee.
“Those who want to sponsor, they can sponsor. But I cannot sponsor that because I did not believe in the efficacy of death penalty,” said Gordon.
“I can conduct the hearing. But they should sponsor, they should defend when it comes to the floor,” also said Gordon.
According to Gordon, he is not in favor of the re-imposition of death penalty because he believes this does not deter criminality and drug use in the country.
“Unang-una, isang pagkakamali, lagot ka na, hindi mo na mababawi. At maraming napatanayan ‘yan na maraming nagkakamali,” he said.
“It is not sure to be effective now. Many have died, but did drugs stop.?” he asked.
Four senators have already filed measures seeking death penalty, namely Senators Manny Pacquiao and Ronald dela Rosa for crimes involving illegal drugs, Senator Christopher ‘Bong’ Go for illegal drugs and plunder, and Senator Panfilo Lacson for other heinous crimes.
Senator Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian revealed that he too would be filing a bill seeking the re-imposition of the death penalty.
These bills are expected to be referred to the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights which Gordon chairs.
In the previous Congress, a subcomittee was established to hear the death penalty bills in the Senate, with Pacquiao leading the hearing and sponsoring the bill on the floor.
But Gordon said that instead of the death penalty, said those found involved in drugs and criminality should be jailed. He believes this punishment would have more lasting effects not only to them but also to their families.
“What is more important for me is to jail them because this is a graver punishment not only to the gunman but also to the family,” he said.
“Dahil dapat mag-ingat sila at pati pamilya niyan ay maghihirap dahil magpapadala siya ng pagkain,” he said.
“It’s an effort by the family na dapat may disiplina ang lahat,” he added.
Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon had earlier guaranteed to fight “tooth and nail” over the reimposition of death penalty as he admitted that those against it face an uphill battle.
Drilon issued the statement in the wake of the growing number of senators in the 18th Congress who have been openly endorsing its passage.
“We strongly and unequivocally oppose the reimposition of death penalty. We are prepared to fight it all the way,” Drilon said.
Opposition Senator Leila de Lima on the other hand filed Senate Bill No. 187 which seeks to impose qualified reclusion perpetua on extraordinary heinous crimes such as drug cases and plunder.
De Lima said she wants to impose life imprisonment on extraordinary heinous crimes, which she said has failed to be an effective deterrent against such crimes.