Gordon not keen on sponsoring refiled death penalty bills in the Senate

Senator Richard Gordon is not keen on sponsoring the bill restoring death penalty even if it gets approval from the committee he chairs.

"'Yung gustong mag-sponsor, sila ang mag-sponsor. Pero hindi ko ma-sponsor 'yan dahil hindi ako naniniwala sa efficacy ng death penalty," Gordon told Dobol B sa News TV in an interview on Sunday.

"I can conduct the hearing. Pero 'yung mag-sponsor siya ang mag-defend pagdating na sa floor," he added.

At least four senators have so far filed measures seeking death penalty, namely Senators Manny Pacquiao and Ronald dela Rosa for crimes involving illegal drugs, Senator Christopher ‘Bong’ Go for illegal drugs and plunder, and Senator Panfilo Lacson for other crimes.

Senator Sherwin "Win" Gatchalian on Saturday revealed that he too would be filing a bill seeking the re-imposition of the death penalty.

These bills are expected to be referred to the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights which Gordon chairs.

But Gordon is not in favor of the restoration of capital punishment, as he believes this does not deter criminality and drug use in the country.

"Unang-una, isang pagkakamali, lagot ka na, hindi mo na mababawi. At maraming napatanayan 'yan na maraming nagkakamali," he said.

"Hindi siguradong magiging effective 'yan dahil ngayon, marami nang namatay pero tumitigil ba ang droga?" he added.

In the previous Congress, a subcomittee was established to hear the death penalty bills in the Senate, with Pacquiao leading the hearing and sponsoring the bill on the floor.

Gordon said that instead of death penalty, individuals found involved in drugs and criminality should be jailed, as this punishment would have more lasting effects not only to them but also to their families.

"Ang talagang mas maganda sa akin, ikulong sapagkat mas mabigat na parusa 'yan hindi lamang doon sa bumaril kundi pati sa pamilya rin. Dahil dapat mag-ingat sila at pati pamilya niyan ay maghihirap dahil magpapadala siya ng pagkain," he said.

"It's an effort by the family na dapat may disiplina ang lahat," he added.

Opposition Senator Leila de Lima on the other hand filed a measure imposing qualified reclusion perpetua on extraordinary heinous crimes such as drug cases and plunder.

In her Senate Bill No. 187, De Lima wants to mete punishment of life imprisonment on extraordinary heinous crimes instead of the death penalty, which she said has failed to be an effective deterrent against such crimes. —Erwin Colcol/KG, GMA News