House death penalty bill now limited to drug crimes

MANILA, Philippines — The proposed revival of the death penalty at Congress will only cover drug-related crimes, an administration congressman said.

The draft House Bill 4727 originally included capital punishment for grave offenses such as rape, treason and plunder.

"We agreed that yung bill will only be limited to drug related heinous crimes," Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali said in a televised ambush interview after a caucus held by the House of Representatives' majority on Monday.

"It is more of yung getting the consensus of the group," Umali added. "Parang it became easier when we limited it to just one crime."

Umali said the original intent of the legislative agenda is to impose death penalty on drug crimes.

"Sabi ko nga after all, this was the original intent after we have conducted the illegal drug trade in bilibid prison inquiry, na we would like to re-impose death penalty for drug related heinous crime," Umali said.

President Rodrigo Duterte has been pushing for the revival of the death penalty, which he said would be a form of  "retribution" rather than a deterrant for crime. This is despite heavy opposition by human rights groups, opposition lawmakers and the Catholic Church, among others.

Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed a law in 2006 abolishing the death penalty. Despite being part of the majority, the current Pampanga representative said she will oppose the proposal on death penalty.