Recto not closing doors on reimposing death penalty, but…

Senator Ralph Recto. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

While he is against the restoration of the death penalty, Senator Ralph Recto said he was inclined to support the proposal if it got the support of the majority and if it would be imposed only during the six-year term of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte.

“I am personally against the death penalty but assuming it will be restored, I will propose it be imposed only for six years or only during the term of President Duterte,” Recto said in a text message to reporters on Friday.

Asked then if he was inclined to support the reimposition of the capital punishment if the proposal got the backing of the majority of the Senate, Recto said: “That’s a possibility.”

“(I am) studying all options. I will wait and read the bill when it is filed,” the senator added.

Senator-elect Panfilo Lacson reiterated that he was in favor of the death penalty but not by hanging, which is being pushed by Duterte. He described death by hanging as a “bit too medieval.”

READ: Davao mayor vows to bring back death penalty

Lacson said he also expected a long debate in Congress on the proposed restoration of the death penalty, citing the various issues regarding its scope.

READ: Duterte vows to restore death penalty for heinous crimes

“Halimbawa, si Senator Koko mismo ay ayaw isali ang rape sa death penalty. Sa ganang akin, kapag rape na may kasamang pagpatay, mutilation at iba pang uri ng kalupitan, o kaya ay statutory rape, gusto ko kasama sa death penalty,” he said in a separate text message.

(For example, even Sentor Koko does not want rape to be included in the crimes punishable by death. But for me, if rape is coupled with murder, mutilation and other forms of violence, or statutory rape, I want it to be punishable by death.)

Koko is Senator Aqulino Pimentel, who is said to be the next Senate president after claiming to have clinched the support of at least 17 senators.

“Tutol din ako kung by hanging ang pamamaraan. Gumastos na tayo sa pagbili ng lethal injection kaya available na. ‘Yun na lang (I am also against death penalty by hanging. We also spent on means to carry out lethal injection. Let’s just use it). Death, especially the agony of knowing exactly when it will happen is the ultimate punishment,” Lacson added. IDL/rga