The House of Representatives has approved the Dangerous...

The House of Representatives has approved the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 on third and final reading after marathon sessions. Bukidnon Rep. Juan Miguel Zubiri, coauthor of House Bill No. 4433, said the bill contains harsher and tougher provisions than the Senate version of the measure.
The bill imposes the death penalty on persons found in possession of at least 10 grams of shabu and other banned substances and 150 grams for marijuana.
"Studies indicate that illegal drug users consume at an average about five grams a month for their shabu addiction and lowering the death penalty for 10 grams is to make sure that so-called users don't become pushers," he said in a statement. The Senate version of the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 imposes death penalty for individuals found with at least 99 grams of shabu and 500 grams for marijuana.
Mr. Zubiri said there is a need for tougher action against illegal drugs, especially since statistics show 3.7 million out of the 74 million population are drug dependents. Out of the total drug dependents, 34.43% or 1.2 million belong to the youth sector, or those aged 15 to 29 years old.As of November 2001, statistics from the National Capital Region show 35% or 604 barangays are drug-infested.
In a related development, the House has remained sharply divided on death penalty issue.Mr. Zubiri said there are now 68 signatories to House Resolution 479 which expresses the sense of the House for full implementation of the death penalty to deter crime.
"How can the Senate call for a repeal of the death penalty law when its full impact has not been implemented with the moratorium on executions currently being implemented by the government?" he said. On the other hand, Albay Rep. Krisel Lagman Luistro said more than 60 members of the House have already backed House Bill 1396 which seeks the abolition of the death penalty law.
"A new round of hearings and debates may temporarily polarize Congress and the people, but eventually it will lead to a consensual decision on how to best punish the criminals and institute a progressive criminal justice system," she said in a statement.