MANILA,
Philippines – Aside from drug-related offenses, Senator
Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said he also wants rape, treason, terrorism and human
trafficking to be punishable by death.
Lacson said terrorism, human
trafficking, plunder, treason and drug-related crimes should be under the
coverage of the proposed restoration of the death penalty law, as an alarming
surge of heinous crimes in recent years has shown life imprisonment, as capital
punishment, failed to be a deterrent to grave offenders.
“Hence, to reinstate public
order and the rule of law, there is an impending need to revisit and re-impose
the death penalty on certain heinous crimes which as ratiocinated by R.A. 7659
or the Death Penalty Law is appropriately necessary due to the alarming upsurge
of such crimes which has resulted not only in the loss of human lives and
wanton destruction of property but also affected the nation’s efforts
towards sustainable economic development and prosperity while at the same time
has undermined the people’s faith in the Government and the latter’s
ability to maintain peace and order in the country’,” Lacson said in the
explanatory note of his bill.
The measure has been submitted
to the Senate Legislative Bills and Index and is expected
to be tackled immediately upon opening of the 17th Congress in July 25.
Under Lacson’s bill, crimes to
be punishable by death penalty include treason, qualified piracy, qualified
bribery, parricide, murder, infanticide, rape, kidnapping and serious illegal
detention, robbery with violence against or intimidation of persons, destructive
arson, plunder, drug-related cases, terrorism, carnapping, trafficking in
persons (including use of trafficked persons for prostitution), and illegal recruitment (if
it constitutes economic sabotage).
Lacson said any Filipino who
levies war against the Philippines or adheres to her enemies shall be punished
by reclusion perpetua to death for treason, and shall pay a fine of up to
P100,000.
Qualified piracy, he said, is
when offenders seize a vessel by boarding or firing upon it; abandoning their
victims without means of saving themselves; or when the crime is accompanied by
murder, homicide, physical injuries or rape.
Qualified bribery, Lacson
explained is if a public law enforcement officer refrains from
arresting or prosecuting an offender who has committed a crime punishable by
reclusion perpetua and/or death in consideration of any offer, promise, gift or
present. If the public officer asks or demands such a gift, he or she shall
suffer the death penalty.
Lacson said any person who
would kill any child less than three days faces the death penalty provided for
parricide.
Rape must also be punishable by
death if done using a deadly weapon or by two or more persons and when the
victim has become insane; when the rape is attempted and a homicide is
committed;
When the victim is less than 18
years old and the offender is a parent, ascendant, step-parent,
guardian, relative by consanguinity or affinity within the third civil degree,
or the common-law spouse of the parent of the victim;
When the victim is under the
custody of the police or military authorities or any law enforcement or penal
institution;
When the rape is committed in
full view of the spouse, parent, any of the children or other relatives within
the third civil degree of consanguinity;
When the victim is a religious and is personally
known as such by the offender; and when the victim is a child below seven years old.
Source: The Maharlikan
Source: The Maharlikan
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