Senate could narrowly pass death penalty bill: Sotto

In a radio interview, Sotto said at least 13 senators may support the proposed restoration of the death penalty for high-level drug trafficking and plunder. (File Photo: Senate of the Philippines/Facebook)

MANILA — Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Tuesday said the Senate could narrowly pass the death penalty bill in a “squeaker” vote.

In a radio interview, Sotto said at least 13 senators may support the proposed restoration of the death penalty for high-level drug trafficking and plunder.

“Palagay ko squeaker pero kaya. Kung baga sa mga 13-14, kaya natin. Kung high-level drug trafficking lang (I think it could be a squeaker but it’s still possible. Probably, with around 13 to 14 (senators), it can be done. If it only covers high-level drug trafficking),” Sotto said.

“Syempre, kung ipapasok ang plunder at hindi naman magandang umayaw kami doon, kasama na rin sa squeaker yan, mga 13-14, baka kayanin sa Senado (If we were to include plunder–and it would not be good for us to reject such proposal–it could also be a squeaker. With around 13-14 (votes), it could be passed in the Senate),” Sotto added.

Stressing how the government still has “a long way to go” in the fight against illegal drugs, President Rodrigo R. Duterte has renewed his request for Congress to reinstate the death penalty for heinous crimes related to drugs and plunder.

“I respectfully request Congress to reinstate the death penalty for heinous crimes related to drugs, as well as plunder,” Duterte said in his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.

“I am aware that we still have a long way to go in our fight against this social menace. Let the reason why I advocate the imposition of the death penalty for crimes related to illegal drugs,” he added.

Duterte has pushed for the reinstatement of the death penalty since the start of his 2016 presidential campaign and also mentioned it in his second SONA in 2017.

Two of his allies in Congress, Senators Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and Christopher “Bong” Go have both vowed to push for the revival of capital punishment.