Another lawmaker backs death penalty vs corruption

The Manila Times

Another lawmaker backs death penalty vs corruption  Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, chairman of the House of Representatives' Dangerous Drugs Committee, says on Jan. 22, 2025 that he was in favor of a bill that penalized those convicted of corruption with the death penalty through firing squad, adding that he is in favor of expanding it to other heinous crimes, including drugs.  Barbers also discussed the testimony of Police Col. Hector Grijaldo and of the committee's plans as the House enters its last two weeks before the campaign period begins in February  VIDEO BY RED MENDOZA  Subscribe to The Manila Times Channel - https://tmt.ph/YTSubscribe   Visit our website at https://www.manilatimes.net     Follow us:  Facebook - https://tmt.ph/facebook   Instagram - https://tmt.ph/instagram   Twitter - https://tmt.ph/twitter   DailyMotion - https://tmt.ph/dailymotion     Subscribe to our Digital Edition - https://tmt.ph/digital Sign up to our newsletters: https://tmt.ph/newsletters    Check out our Podcasts:  Spotify - https://tmt.ph/spotify   Apple Podcasts - https://tmt.ph/applepodcasts   Amazon Music - https://tmt.ph/amazonmusic   Deezer: https://tmt.ph/deezer  Tune In: https://tmt.ph/tunein  #themanilatimes #tmtnews  #philippines #deathpenalty

Transcript

00:00Independent of the plunder, drugs, and other heinous crimes.

00:08Murder.

00:09Yeah, the crime of murder.

00:11Right now, we filed a bill on extrajudicial killing.

00:15And we're in the process of really discussing this in the committee.

00:19So we can really define what extrajudicial killing means vis-a-vis or in comparison to the crime of murder.

00:28So is this still under the 19th Congress?

00:31We're hoping that this will pass the 19th Congress.

00:35If not, we hope that this will be refiled in the next Congress.

00:40For certain heinous crimes.

00:43What are those heinous crimes?

00:45But I think, in the course of the deliberation, maybe we can also increase the number of drug-related crimes and plunder.

00:55Because I think there's a strong sentiment among the people that if the death penalty is revoked, the crime of plunder or corruption will also be included.

01:06I don't think it's problematic.

01:08I don't think it's a crime.

01:10It's just a graph and a conversation.

01:16The graph is just biased by raciality.

01:19The raciality of the graph is not there.

01:21That's correct.

01:23That is why plunder is the most logical crime to be included in the imposition of the penalty of death.

01:32Because there's a clear benefit to the player or the actor.

01:40And of course, I think it is one serious step to really send a signal that corruption should not be taken lightly.

01:51Corruption should not be taken or should not be tolerated, so to speak.

01:57But more than that, of course, the crime of drug-related.

02:03The one who smuggles, imports illegal drugs and manufactures or produces drugs.

02:12That should really be revoked for the death penalty.

02:17So code by firing squad for the corrupt officials?

02:25Those nations with death penalty implements death, implements the penalty via the most acceptable and humane way.

02:41This is lethal injection.

02:44For us, personally, I don't really mind in whatever mode they want to implement the penalty.

02:52But if there's one, we can just reimpose it.

02:56We can just return the death penalty to the crimes of corruption and plunder.

03:06Plunder is plunder.

03:08So code by firing squad?

03:10Well, if that is going to be the accepted mode of the majority of the members of Congress, both in the House and in the Senate, then so be it.

03:21Because if that is acceptable, we have to follow the decision of the majority.

03:27That's one thing. It's also good to discuss and study what is acceptable to the people.

03:39Earlier this morning, at 9 o'clock, he was brought to Station 6 of the Quezon City Police.

03:46There are still supporters of Grijaldo on social media.

03:55You're still being directed on social media by Grijaldo.

03:59What are your steps towards Grijaldo?

04:03Because until now, he still hasn't spoken.

04:06He still hasn't spoken to you.

04:09Well, you know, that's his right.

04:11If he doesn't want to speak, if he doesn't want to participate, that's his right.

04:15We won't force him.

04:17But you know, we will exert all efforts to extract information from him.

04:22If you remember, yesterday, he was asked questions related to his statement in the Senate.

04:33Related to his affidavit that he submitted to the Senate.

04:36We didn't go outside of the affidavit that he submitted.

04:41He still doesn't want to answer.

04:43What does that tell us?

04:44To us, majority members of the committee, he's hiding something.

04:50He's hiding something and he's not telling the truth.

04:53That's why our view is that if he doesn't cooperate and doesn't tell the truth,

05:00it will only strengthen the belief of many that he's lying and his motive is to destroy the members,

05:13especially the two chairmen of the Quad Committee.

05:30You

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