MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Aaron Aquino on Thursday said he favors the return of the death penalty for crimes related to illegal drugs as it will cripple the activities of international drug syndicates in the country.
“I for myself, I am for death penalty,” he said in a press conference during the destruction of P6 billion worth of illegal drugs in a waste management facility in Cavite.
READ: PDEA destroys P6B worth of illegal drugs in Cavite
In a text message to INQUIRER.net, Aquino said he wants capital punishment for “drug traffickers and manufacturers,” while drug users “should be rehabilitated or be reformed.”
“In some instances as I have said before the international drug syndicates continue to smuggle drugs because there is no death penalty in the country,” he said.
The PDEA chief said some senators who are supportive of the revival of the death penalty have started “coordinating” with him on the matter.
Neophyte Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, an ally of President Rodrigo Duterte, earlier filed Senate Bill 207 seeking the revival of the death penalty for heinous crimes including those involving illegal drugs.
READ: Go files bill restoring death penalty for heinous crimes
Senator Manny Pacquiao, meanwhile, also filed Senate Bill 189 seeking to impose the capital punishment for drug traffickers and manufacturers.
READ: Pacquiao wants death penalty for drug traffickers, manufacturers
“We will continue collaborating with them and hopefully mapasa ito at maging batas (this will be passed into law),” Aquino said. (Editor: Mike U. Frialde)