MANILA, Philippines — A House of Representatives committee convened Monday to tackle several measures which seek to provide more teeth to the country’s fight against illegal drugs exactly a week after President Rodrigo Duterte called for the reimposition of death penalty to address the issue.
During the meeting of the technical working group (TWG) of the House of Representatives Committee on Dangerous Drugs, Surigao Del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers presented House Bill No. 68 which seeks to “strengthen” Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 by proposing several amendments.
Barbers is the author of House Bill No. 68.
Some of the key provisions of the measure are as follows:
- To provide for a provision to penalize negligent lessors of properties used as plant laboratories. Lessors of properties will be required to submit documents to avoid their properties from being used for illegal drug purpose
- To ensure thatFilipino professional and non-professional athletes are drug-free by providing for a mandatory drug testing twice a year
- If a property is owned by a third person and the same is used as a den or resort to commit violation of the provision of RA 9165, criminal liability shall extend to the partner, president, director, manager, trustee, estate administrator or officer of the corporation or partnership who consents to or tolerates such violation
- Drug test certificates issued by accredited drug-testing centre shall now be valid up to 3 months from the original one-year period to ensure its reliability
Death penalty
The issue of death penalty was likewise mentioned during the discussion.
According to Barbers, a vocal supporter of the reimposition of death penalty, Republic Act 9165 already provides for the penalty of death for several drug-related cases such as the importation, manufacturing, and sale or trading of dangerous drugs, among others.
Several sections of R.A. 9165 mention the punishment for these acts as “ life imprisonment to death” which is also reflected on House Bill No. 68.
“Thus, if and when Congress will pass the death penalty law, the death penalty provision under R.A. 9165 will automatically become operative,” Barbers said.
Barbers, however, clarified that the reimposition of death penalty is not the issue being discussed by the TWG since it will fall under the House Committee on Justice which will hold a separate discussion on the controversial matter.
Nonetheless, Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez withdrew his sponsorship of House Bill No. 2765 which was also being tackled in the committee alongside Barbers’ proposed measure.
House Bill No. 2765 also seeks to amend R.A. 9165 and will be incorporated with Barbers’ bill.
“Since the law provides for life imprisonment to death, I cannot be an author anymore where there is mention of death because we will be misunderstood. I would not be a co-author of the omnibus bill,” Rodriguez said.
“While I agree with most of the provisions except the mention of life imprisonment to death, I am really for removing death already,” the lawmaker added.
Rodriguez said he will only support the measure if the “to death” portion of the measure will be removed and let the justice committee discuss the matter.
In his penultimate State of the Nation Address (SONA), Duterte called for the reimposition of the death penalty in the Philippines for drug-related crimes.
Duterte has repeatedly expressed openness to revive the death penalty, which the country suspended in 2006, for drug trafficking and other heinous crimes, noting that it will instill fear among criminals.