Sen. Robert Barbers urged Philippine President Arroyo...

Sen. Robert Barbers urged Philippine President Arroyo to lift the moratorium on the implementation of the death penalty following the increasing cases of heinous crimes, particularly illegal drugs and kidnapping for ransom. "I call on the President to lift the moratorium on the death penalty. I also ask the Supreme Court to expedite the review of capital offenses and resolve immediately cases involving heinous crimes," Barbers said. The lawmaker buttressed his belief that the death penalty could help prevent the commission of heinous crimes by recounting how the number of drug related cases reported to police dropped substantially following the death of drug lord Lim Seng who was executed by firing squad during Martial Law. "I am willing to resign as senator if I will be proven wrong in my belief that the death penalty could lessen, if not totally eradicate, the commission of heinous crimes. All that has to be done is to carry out the execution of at least one death convict on a weekly basis," Barbers stated.