House panel sees approval of death penalty bill by May

MANILA, Philippines — House justice committee chair Rep. Reynaldo Umali targets the passage of the bill reviving the death penalty before the end of the first regular session in May.

At a press briefing at the House of Representatives on Monday, Umali said that President Rodrigo Duterte has been pushing for the restoration of capital punishment for certain crimes, including rape, homicide and violations of the anti-drug trafficking law.

"This is on top of our priority because of the priority given by no less than the president," Umali said.

Duterte listed death penalty as among his legislative agenda, years after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed Republic Act 9346 scrapping death penalty in the Philippines in 2006.

Umali said that the House Committee on Rules would discuss the proposed policy and decide whether to include it on the Lower House's calendar.

He said the justice panel has prepared for the sponsorship of the bill for second reading at the plenary hearing.

READ: House defers death penalty bill approval

Umali said argued that the revival of death penalty in the country is "part and parcel" of justice system reforms government has to pursue.

"And death penalty would surely factor in strengthening and enhancing the criminal justice system," Umali said.

Capital punishment, however, is a contentious issue opposed by major foreign organizations such as the European Union and the Catholic Church, citing the viability of wrongdoers' rehabilitation and the more urgent need to reform judicial processes and .

Long been disproved to deter crime, death penalty is, for President Rodrigo Duterte, is a form of retribution for crime committed.