Quad comm mulls proposing death penalty revival for heinous crimes

Lawmakers from the House of Representatives hold the third hearing of the quad committee on Wednesday, August 28, 2024. (Photo from the House of Representatives media bureau)

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives’ quad committee may propose the revival of the death penalty for heinous offenses, in response to the panel’s discovery of different crimes, lead presiding officer Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said.

Barbers, in his opening speech at the quad committee hearing on Friday, named several laws that may be part of their recommendations regarding amendments.

At the end of the list is a proposal to revive capital punishment, as it can be an “effective deterrent” to the commission of heinous crimes.

“The quad comm’s mission encompasses more than just exposing criminal activities — it intends to address systemic gaps and implement enduring reforms through well-crafted legislation such as […] (a) review (of) the need to revive the death penalty on certain heinous crimes as an effective deterrent to the commission thereof,” Barbers said.

“We have been going back and forth in death penalty discussions in the past. Look at what has happened. The peace and order situation of our country worsened. Criminals are no longer afraid. Assassinations, which we know as extrajudicial killings, are rampant,” he added in Filipino.

According to Barbers, the hearings had found out that even the police were being used to kill people, therefore, necessitating the death penalty.

“Even our police have been used to kill people,” he said.

“Our core values were destroyed and replaced by greed. In exchange for money, the police were used to kill those merely accused of involvement in illegal drugs,” he went on.

“For every killing, there was a cash reward waiting. They just need the slain person to be included in the list of drug personalities,” he added.

“Now is the time of reckoning. Those accountable will have to pay. Justice will be given to victims who were used by the shameless for their money-making schemes.”

The question of whether or not the country needs to reinstate the death penalty has been a hot debate over the years, with several anti-crime advocates believing that such a measure would deter people from engaging in criminal activities.

However, pro-life activists have questioned this claim, expressing concerns that the death penalty might be imposed on innocent people.

Death penalty has been disallowed by the 1987 Constitution unless applied in instances with compelling reasons like heinous crimes.

But just years after the new constitution, there was a strong push for the capital punishment’s restoration due to increasing crime rates.

It was successfully reestablished by the administration of President Fidel Ramos, and was implemented by his successor, President Joseph Estrada.

However, it was repealed after then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed Republic Act No. 9346 or an Act Prohibiting the Imposition of Death Penalty in the Philippines.

READ: What Went Before: Death Penalty Law

READ: IN THE KNOW: Death penalty 

The quad committee launched its seventh hearing, with the focus being alleged human rights violations in the past administration’s drug war.

Earlier, the panel also cited National Police Commission (Napolcom) Commissioner and former police Col. Edilberto Leonardo for contempt, after lawmakers deemed him lying to them.

Leonardo was cited for contempt after he denied meeting Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) S/Supt. Gerardo Padilla, about the killing of three Chinese at the Davao Prison and Penal Farm back in August 2016.

Padilla previously said in his updated testimony that he talked with former Police Col. Royina Garma and Leonardo, over the operation to kill the three Chinese.

READ: Duterte ordered killing of Chinese inmates, BuCor exec confirms 

During the quad committee’s hearing last August 22, self-confessed hitman Leopoldo Tan said he and Fernando Magdadaro were hired to kill the Chinese Chu Kin Tung, Jackson Lee and Peter Wang, who were serving time at the Davao penal facility.

The three were convicted of drug-related violations.

According to Tan, Padilla talked with former President Rodrigo Duterte over the phone after the hit was carried out, congratulating the BuCor official.

Eventually, Padilla corroborated Tan’s testimony.

READ: Duterte ordered killing of 3 Chinese men in 2016, hitman claims