Senator-elect Sherwin Gatchalian. SCREENGRAB FROM INQUIRER.net
While he favors the restoration of the death penalty for big time drug syndicates and drug lords, Senator-elect Sherwin Gatchalian said the Senate should study carefully the proposal to reimpose it for other heinous crimes.
“I do agree to reimpose the death penalty for big time drug syndicates and drug lords. However, we have to study carefully (the) other crimes being proposed by the administration,” Gatchalian said in a text message on Thursday.
READ: Death is coming
“This is one of the items the Senate will thoroughly deliberate and discuss,” he added.
Presumptive President-elect Rodrigo Duterte himself is pushing for the reimposition of the death penalty not only for drug crimes but also for other heinous crimes.
READ: Duterte vows to restore death penalty for heinous crimes
Both Senate President Franklin Drilon and Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara earlier expressed their readiness to listen to all arguments for and against the reinstatement of the capital punishment in the country.
“I will listen to all sides,” Drilon said.
Angara, for his part, said he would “listen carefully to the arguments for and against.”
But Angara added: “We should also prioritize measures to improve law enforcement and the justice system alongside any death penalty measures.” RAM/rga