The reimposition of death penalty seems to be already dead in the Senate.
This after several senators expressed opposition against legislating one of the campaign promises of President Rodrigo Duterte.
After Vatican declared death penalty as inadmissible, Malcañang on Friday said the revival of the death penalty is now in the Senate’s hands.
READ: Pope changes death penalty teaching, now ‘inadmissible’
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque noted that the House of Representatives has already passed a bill that reimposes death penalty.
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said there was no death penalty vote in the Senate.
“It will die if put to a vote today. Malacañang knows this,” Drilon said in a statement.
He said Malacañang leaves death penalty’s fate to senators because it doesn’t want to waste political capital on the death penalty bill.
Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, a staunch ally of the president, said, “we won’t reimpose it.”
Senator Sonny Angara said the measure doesn’t seem to be moving in the upper house.
“When I last checked the Senate seemed somewhat divided on the issue,” he said in a text message to reporters.
Liberal Party President and Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said senators who are members of their party oppose the restoration of the death penalty.
“We do not see it as a deterrent to crime,” he said.
However, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said he will study the issue.
“Let me think it over. I’ll try to find some kind of a compromise,” he said.
He previously said the reimposition of death penalty may have the numbers in the Senate if it only covers high-level drug trafficking.
“For me, we have a fair chance of getting 13 votes if we would only talk about high-level drug trafficking,” he said upon assuming the Senate leadership. /vvp