PR/via Eunice Samonte – PTV News
PASAY CITY – One of the ten priority bills filed at the Senate today by Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go was to revive death penalty as punishment for plunder and dangerous drugs crimes.
The bill entitled, “An Act reinstating the death penalty for certain heinous crimes involving dangerous drugs and plunder,” seeks to effectively promote peace and order in the country and support the program of the administration and President Rodrigo Roa Duterte against illegal drugs, criminality and corruption, especially in the government.
“Part po ito ng patuloy na kampanya namin ni Pangulong Duterte na labanan ang droga at korapsyon sa gobyerno,” Go said in an ambush interview right after he passed his priority bills at the Senate. He further emphasized how frustrated he and the President are towards the still corrupt ways of some politicians in the system.
“Alam mo, frustrated na po si Pangulong Duterte sa nangyayari sa ating bansa, sa [nangyayaring] korapsyon sa gobyerno natin,” he added. “Gusto ko siyang tulungan na matigil po ito up to the last day of his term and of course, beyond.”
The bill described corruption as “an equally deplorable evil that has kept the least fortunate of our countrymen from enjoying the steady economic progress we have achieved over the last few years.” It also stressed how the administration has displayed its strong stance against the public officials and officers caught in the said act by imposing dismissal, prosecution and incarceration.
On the other hand, Go also pushes for the same heavy punishment towards those involved with dangerous or illegal drugs. While Go’s bill essentially revives the death penalty for all offenses in which it is imposed under the Dangerous Drugs Act, he reiterated his openness to study and discuss if the specifics, such as the quantity of illegal drugs, need to be amended. He insisted that he is open to study the specifics of the bill with his fellow senators.
He also said in the interview that he will initiate talks with Senator Bato dela Rosa about the illegal drugs issue so that they can work together to address it.
The fight against illegal drugs and corruption have been one of the strongest foundations of President Duterte’s convincing victory in the 2016 national elections, and Go is determined to take further steps to support this and help uplift the lives of the Filipinos. “Tulungan po natin ang Pilipino. Hindi aasenso ang pilipinas kung hangga’t nandiyan po ang mga corrupt na opisyal,” Go told the press.
For Go, the proposed bill will surely face a lot of public scrutiny but only wishes that these crimes be stopped. “Actually, mahabang usapan po ito. Hindi po ganoon kadali ang usapang ito. Alam ko marami pong tututol dito sa panukalang ito. Ang akin lamang po is mapigilan ang paglaganap ng iligal na droga sa bansa.”
Go also asked the public to help support this bill. He said, “Sana po tulungan niyo po kami, part po ito ng continuing campaign po namin ni Pangulong Duterte na labanan ang korupsyon, labanan ang kriminalidad, at labanan ang illegal na droga.”
Despite the roadblocks along the way, Go is optimistic that the reinstatement of death penalty for such heinous crimes will be approved. “Siguro ito na ‘yong panahon. Wala pong naglakas loob noon, maraming kumukontra, wala na, tulog na naman ung batas. Ako, mag-isa lang naman po ako. Siguro kung may susuporta sa atin, siguro with the support of the administration, of President Duterte, and fellow legislators, baka makakalusot o makapasa po ito sa kongreso, hopefully.
