MANILA, Philippines— Senator Cynthia Villar believes that there is now a growing consensus at the Senate for the restoration of the death penalty but only for drug lords.
On Wednesday, Villar openly expressed her support for the proposal to reimpose the capital punishment for high level drug trafficking.
“Para po sa amin, kung ang bibigyan ng death penalty ay drug lord, parang ok na sa amin,” she said in an interview over DZMM.
“Kasi alam mo naman dito sa Pilipinas, parang may failure tayo ng administration of justice e kung aasahan natin na ang justice system will be able to penalize them ay parang malabo kasi mayayaman sila e.”
“So para hong nagkaka consensus na pag drug trafficking, parang pwede na ang death penalty,” Villar said.
In supporting the restoration of the death penalty, the senator also noted the children who have become victims of illegal drugs.
Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and Senator Manny Pacquiao, who are proponents of the death penalty bill in the Senate, predicted a majority vote or at least 13 of 24 senators in favor of the measure
READ: Sotto counts at least 13 senators voting for restoration of death penalty
READ: Pacquiao: Majority of senators back death penalty but only for drugs
Other senators pushing for the restoration of the death penalty are Senators Panfilo Lacson, and neophyte Senators Bato dela Rosa and Christopher “Bong” Go.
Some of their colleagues, meanwhile, have expressed openness on the measure. /muf