SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte – With the recent seizure of nearly P800-million worth of high grade cocaine off the coast of Siargao and Dinagat Islands, Hugpong ng Pagbabago candidates are convinced that the bill reimposing the death penalty should be revived by the 18th Congress.
Former presidential political adviser Francis Tolentino and Maguindanao Rep. Zajid “Dong” Mangudadatu have expressed support to the death penalty measure that has been approved in the House of Representatives but remained pending in the Senate.
On the other hand, former Philippine National Police chief Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa noted that his disclosure in campaign sortie to pursue the enactment of a measure for the execution of drug traffickers is among his legislative plans that has been drawing huge public approval.
Asked to react on the recovery of large narcotics shipment in Siargao and Dinagat, Tolentino said the “high value entries of illegal drugs” should prompt the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Philippine Coast Guard to step up operations and be more vigilant.
“Siguro dapat nang ibalik ang death penalty,” the administration senatorial bet said.
Tolentino called for the execution not only of drug traffickers, but also of the source of narcotics and those involved in facilitating drug smuggling into the country.
However, the former presidential adviser said the imposition of the death sentence should be dependent on the frequency of the commission of the offense.
Reacting to the large-scale drug smuggling operations, Mangudadatu said the non-imposition of the death sentence in the Philippines has given narcotics sources the boldness to operate here. (Ben Rosario)
