PHILIPPINES: SOTTO PROPOSES RETURN OF DEATH PENALTY FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING

former Filippino senator Vicente "Tito’’ C. Sotto III, now chairman of the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), said he will work for the re-imposition of the death penalty for those convicted for illegal drugs trafficking and capital offenses, including heinous crimes. Centering on drug trafficking, Sotto said "this is one serious problem that the government must give priority to – as too many families have been gravely affected, in fact, destroyed because of this social menace, which is worldwide.’’ Sotto was the principal author of Republic Act No. 7659 enacted in 1993 which reimposed death penalty on capital offenses. In 2006, RA 7659 was repealed as Congress made ‘‘life imprisonment’’ as the maximum punishment for criminal offenses, including drug-related cases. Sotto said that he will make proper representation with Congress for the return of death sentence, stressing he was initiating talks with Sen. Gregorio Honasan, chairman of the Senate committee on drugs and public order.