Bato seeks death penalty revival

Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa is determined to refile his bill seeking to reinstate the death penalty for high-level drug traffickers, citing the resurgence of “heinous crimes” in the country.

Dela Rosa revealed his plan in a radio interview on Tuesday, pointing to a recent incident in Taguig City where a 14-year-old Chinese student was kidnapped and his finger was cut off by his abductors.

“If I am fortunate enough, I will file again this everlasting death penalty for high-level drug traffickers. This does not include the small-time pushers on the streets, these are the big-time ones, the large-scale ones,” he said in Filipino.

Dela Rosa expressed frustration over the failure of his proposed death penalty measure to pass due to controversies.

“It hasn’t passed because it’s quite controversial. But still I truly believe, I’m really convinced that if this passes, it will be the solution to the problems our country is facing right now,” he added.

He also referenced the tragic incident in Cebu where an intoxicated man murdered his wife and two children, as well as other recent heinous crimes, including the rape and killing of a three-year-old and an 80-year-old.

“You know, those horrific crimes, those heinous crimes, they are capable of doing that when they are not in their right mind and are under the influence of drugs.”

Dela Rosa, who was once the director-general of the Bureau of Corrections, shared a conversation he had with a convicted Chinese drug lord.

“According to the drug lord, one of the reasons they were smuggling drugs into the Philippines was because the country did not have a death penalty, unlike other Asian countries.

“In the Philippines, since the death penalty had been abolished, even if they were arrested, convicted, and imprisoned, they could continue their illegal drug trade, even from inside the Bilibid prison,” he said.

“They’re no longer afraid of getting caught because they’re already imprisoned. They’re not afraid of facing charges because they’re already convicted and are safe inside the Bilibid. So their business continues without interruption,” he added.