Rep. Barbers renews call to restore death penalty vs drug traffickers 

Representative Robert Ace Barbers, Chairman, committee on dangerous drugs during the House inquiry into the P2.4 billion shabu smuggling at the House of Represetatives, Quezon City on August 30, 2018. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA

Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers on Wednesday renewed his appeal before the Senate for the passage of a bill restoring death penalty on drug-related cases.

“At this stage, we have noticed that despite the fact that we have sufficient laws dealing with these kinds of crimes, it remains a puzzle to this representation why people keep committing them,” Barbers said at the resumption of the inquiry of House committees on dangerous drugs and good government and public accountability into the alleged smuggling billions worth of shabu.

“Perhaps, it is the lack of implementation of the laws.  Worse, maybe it is the lack of the deterrent effect of the penalties. I would, therefore, take this opportunity to appeal to the Senate to pass the Death Penalty Bill that has been approved by this House,” he added.

The lawmaker also described House Bill No. 4727 as the “only legislation apt for these crimes.”

“Death is the only language these criminals and big-time syndicates understand. What are we waiting for, more deaths and crimes brought about by substance abuse?” Barbers added.

On March 7, 2017, the House passed on third and final reading HB 4727 or an act imposing the death penalty on drug-related offenses. But this bill remains stagnant in Congress as the Senate has yet to act on the lower chamber’s controversial proposed law.

READ: House approves death penalty bill with 217 yes votes

In the same House inquiry, Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. pushed for a “no X-ray, no entry” policy and modernization at the Bureau of Customs to ward off the entry of illegal shipments like smuggled drugs into the country. /jpv

READ: Teves pushes for ‘no X-ray, no entry’ policy at Customs