Senator Ralph Recto made it abundantly clear he is against the reinstatement of death penalty.
But with the President-elect Rodrigo Duterte close to his presidential seat, Recto was inclined to support capital punishment -- along with a couple of provisions.
“I am personally against the death penalty but assuming it will be restored, I will propose it be imposed only for six years or only during the term of President Duterte,” Recto said in a text message to reporters on Friday.
Asked then if he was prompted to support the reimposition of the death penalty if the proposal gets the backing of the majority of the Senate, Recto said: “That’s a possibility.”
The senator adds, “(I am) studying all options. I will wait and read the bill when it is filed.”
Senator-elect Panfilo Lacson also favors death penalty, but disapproves hanging which is pushed by Duterte, saying that death by hanging is a “bit too medieval."
“Tutol din ako kung by hanging ang pamamaraan. Gumastos na tayo sa pagbili ng lethal injection kaya available na. ‘Yun na lang (I am also against death penalty by hanging. We also spent on means to carry out lethal injection. Let’s just use it). Death, especially the agony of knowing exactly when it will happen is the ultimate punishment,” Lacson added.
Lacson expects a long debate in the Congress on the proposed restoration of death penalty in the country with lingering issues regarding its scope.
“Halimbawa, si Senator Koko (Aquilino Pimentel) mismo ay ayaw isali ang rape sa death penalty. Sa ganang akin, kapag rape na may kasamang pagpatay, mutilation at iba pang uri ng kalupitan, o kaya ay statutory rape, gusto ko kasama sa death penalty,” he said in a separate text message.
Senator Aquilino Pimentel is said to be the next Senate President after claiming to have clinched the support of at least 17 senators.
Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer
Image: Ralph Recto
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