Foreign drug offenders may face death penalty

InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5

MANILA, Philippines -- The House of Representatives’ committee on dangerous drugs has approved and endorsed the passage of a measure that seeks stiffer penalties, including death, for foreigners convicted of drug offenses.

House Bill 1213 “allows the imposition of the death penalty if prescribed under the national laws of the alien offender,” the bill’s authors, Cagayan de Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez and his brother, Maximo, representative of Abante Mindanao party-list, said.

“This means that the imposition of the penalty for drug offenses as prescribed under the national law of the foreign national or the penalty under Republic Act 9165, whichever is higher, is the rule to follow,” they said.

The Cagayan de Oro lawmaker originally introduced the bill during the 15th Congress, where “it was approved on second and third reading by the House of Representatives … but, unfortunately, was not acted upon by the Senate.”

While acknowledging that the death penalty had been abolished in June 2006, the Rodriguez brothers said “there are some sectors of society who believe that this law is not just and equitable because while foreigners may not be executed in the Philippines for drug trafficking, Filipinos who commit the same are executed in other countries.”

They added that the abolition of capital punishment has emboldened foreigners to establish drug factories in the country.

They cited China, a number of whose citizens have been arrested and jailed for drug trafficking or manufacturing, but which has executed several Filipinos caught transporting drugs.

“While there is no reason to question the laws of foreign countries, we must however, ensure that our countrymen do not suffer the short end of the stick,” the Rodriguez brothers stressed. House panel OKs bill seeking death for foreign drug traffickers

 

Yeah, that's what you read. This is what the quality leadership in the Philippines has to give.

 

Don't expect fair treatment in the Philippines. Has nothing to do with your sex and everything to do with your nationality/race. The Philippines is a very racist/bigoted country (much like most of Asia).

 

Thinking is not a job requirement for politicians here. Every action taken here by the government must be an extreme emotional response that throws logic, ethics. common sense and facts to the side.