K-9 squad gives way to death convicts

Now that the moratorium on the death penalty for drug traffickers has been lifted, the dogs who had temporarily occupied the death chamber will have to find somewhere else to train.

Superintendent Venancio Tesoro, spokesman of the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP), told The STAR they converted the death chamber as a training area for five bomb-sniffing dogs last year.

Since a moratorium on death penalty was implemented by former President Joseph Estrada in the later part of 1999 and the policy continued by President Arroyo, the 1,000-square meter lethal injection chamber had remained unoccupied.

It was only sometime in March last year, when the death chamber became home to five Belgian Melanois bomb sniffers. They turned the compound into their training ground, said Tesoro.

"The lethal injection compound had been used to temporarily house the soldiers and five K-9 dogs which were donated by the Army. They were free to run around here, he said.

The trained dogs are used to detect if any of the visitors are carrying any illegal items into the NBP.

Bureau of Corrections Director Dionisio Santiago said he has made initial preparations for the reactivation of the lethal injection chamber in line with President Arroyo’s statement during her State of the National Address (SONA) that she was in favor of reviving the death penalty for convicted drug pushers.

He added that during the SONA it was evident that his sentiment was shared by a great number of lawmakers.

"The President’s statement on drugs received the longest applause. It was a clear indication that the people are in favor of taking action against drug peddlers and drug lords," Santiago said.

Although they have not yet received any lineup of convicts for lethal injection, Santiago said the chamber would be ready.

"Even if there is no schedule yet, I have already given instructions to have the lethal injection chamber cleaned and checked to make sure it is in good working condition," he said.

Santiago added that four phlebotomists, in charge of inducing the poisonous drug into the body of an inmate, are on call to perform their duty.

The NBP said there are now 985 people on death row and that the Supreme Court has affirmed the decision of a lower court on 134 inmates. Out of the total 1,119 prisoners, only 16 of have been convicted of drug charges. – Evelyn Macairan