Admitting that convicted drug lords are using the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City as their operations center in the continuing distribution of illegal drugs, neophyte Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa wants a revival of the death penalty.
“We have at least 160 convicted drug lords incarcerated at the national prison and we are not sure that they have stopped their drug operations. Many of them are still finding ways [to continue their operations],” said Dela Rosa, who was Bureau of Corrections director before he joined the congressional race in the last elections.
Prior to his post at the Bucor, Dela Rosa served as director of the Philippine National Police.
He also acknowledged that the convicted drug lords were using the NBP as their operation center.
He likewise said the convicted drug lords who control the operations gave instructions on the importation and distribution of illegal drugs.
But if there is a death penalty, Dela Rosa said these drug lords can no longer continue with their criminal activities.
Furthermore, the senator said that death by firing squad could effectively send a firm message to those unscrupulous groups and individuals not to do their illegal acts in the country.
Dela Rosa said they preferred death by firing squad to send a very strong message to the drug traffickers that they could not do their illegal business here in the Philippines.
“We will kill you. papatayin, firing squad kayo pag ginawa niyo 'yan dito sa amin,” Dela Rosa noted.
He said the convicted drug lords were even the ones who called for its implementation.
He revealed that during his stint as BuCor head, some of the inmates actually approached him to suggest the effectivity of death penalty as deterrent not only to the proliferation of illegal drugs but other heinous crimes.
“In my experience as director general of the BuCor, I had talked to convicted drug lords, some of them were foreigners,l related Dela Rosa who will sit as chair of the Public Order and Dangerous Drugs committee in the 18th Congress.
He said the drug lords approached him and suggested to him that to end the drug problem in the Philippines, there should be a death penalty.
The drug lords also disclosed to him that they opted to bring in drugs to the Philippines since there is no death penalty.
He pointed out that amid the government’s heightened campaign on illegal drugs, shabu were still being smuggled into the country.
He said it was therefore clear that they were not scared because “we don’t have the capital punishment.” Dela Rosa has filed Senate Bill 226 seeking to revive the death penalty for illegal drug traffickers and manufacturers.
The proposed measure seeks to mete out the death penalty with a fine ranging from P500,000 to P10 million to those who will import, manufacture, cultivate or culture plants classified as dangerous drugs.
The bill also aims to “hamper the growth of foreign syndicates and to address the illicit drug trafficking prevailing in the region.”
He then proceeded to admit that he knows that there will be a strong resistance against firing squad and said that he will leave it the implementing agencies of the bill to decide.