Nlalarya
'
Business Insrght
Monday, July
Death bill should be presented
as deterrent to crime: Cayetatto
BY WEI{DELL VIGIU,'I
PRESIDENT Duterte's proposal
to re-impose the death penalty on
drug-relared heinous crimes and
plunder should be presented to
the public as a deterrent to crime
for dre measrire to vrin the people's
supporg Speaker Alan Peter Cay-
etano said yesterilay
"So, we should discuss death
penalty in the context of preveo-
tion, and deterreoce of cdrne and
lot as an end by itself," Caybtano
told reporten in a chance interview
rnZamboatga City.
Cayeano said the President is
pushing for the retutri of capital
punishment because the illegal
drugs ttade continues even if it
DEATH
different bills seeking the rc-
imposition of the death pen-
' -alty on heinous crimes.
Surigao del Norte Rep. Bar-
bers, who chaired the House
committee on daagerous drugs
29,2019
has been diminished because of
the government's wat on dtugs.
He said that there might be no
need to re-impose the death ien-
aJry if only cdmes will be dnstically
leduced or toally eiadicated.
"The death penalty debates
might be rendered moot then,"
said the former sboator aod foreien
affairs secretary "So, while rie
are deciding as a nation whether
we vrill reinstitute death penalty,
let's all help each other to less(en)
crime."
For instance, he said vell-lit
areas have 30 percent less crimg
especially if there ate CCTV cam-
etas, which are also considered
detef!ent
Cayetano admitted the-fight
in the 17th Congress, filed
House Bill No 2026 iu;st Jvly
11, even before Duterte made
a pitch for Congress to pass the
measure that will punish drug-
related crimes and phrnder
IIB No.2026 seeks to repeal
Republic Act No. 9346 or "An
\
va^aT FAQ€,,
against illegal drugs remains the
toughest challenge, noting that
60 percent of the crimes in the
country are drug-related.
"So, if we'll be able to eradicate
or miaimize drug abuse to the bare
minimum, crime rate will also go
down," he said.
The Speaket vowed that the
House would facilitate "healthv '
debates on the proposa.l, saying its
sole objective is to prevent cdmes,
particularly heinous ones.
"So, to tlose who want a wat
against death penalty, continue to
ptay but also work hard for peace-
and order," Cayeano said.
Congressmen have already 6led
' See DEATH > Page BZ
Act Ptohibiting the Reimposi-
tion of Death Penalty in the
Philippines."
Minority leader Bienvenido
Abarte Jr. of Manila and Tar-
lac Rep. Victor Yap have also
filed House Bill Nos. 1588 and
368, respectively.