Bato eyes death penalty for politicians funding private armies

Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa is considering capital punishment against politicians who are funding private armies.

This is in line with his previous recommendation to impose death penalty against erring security personnel who commit heinous crimes taking undue advantage of their training, knowledge, and skills.

“Sabi natin noon dapat bigyan ng heavier penalty ang mga former members of security forces lalo na ginamit nila ang kanilang training na natanggap from the government, from the PNP, gagamitin nila ito pambiktima ng helpless civilians dapat times two ang kanilang kasalanan-- death penalty,” he said.

[We previously said that former members of security forces be meted with heavier penalty if they use their training to victimize helpless civilians, it should be doubled, death penalty.]

Asked if death penalty should also be imposed against politicians who finance these private armies, Dela Rosa said “Dapat din siguro kasi sila ang pinaka-mastermind diyan e. Dapat kasama sila sa death penalty.”

[Yes because they act as masterminds. They should be included.]

Apart from a strong law against private armies, Dela Rosa earlier recommended amending laws that will prevent political killings in the country, particularly:

• Amendment to the Omnibus Election Code, particularly the provision on nuisance candidates
• Amendment to the Local Government Code to ensure that the authority to appoint police provincial directors must be with the Philippine National Police and not with the local government officials
• Amendment to the Firearms Law

Further, Dela Rosa is seeking policy reforms including the strict regulation on the selling and using of military and police uniforms, monitoring of dishonorably discharged military personnel, inventory of loose firearms, and updating of the PNP Standard of Procedures in addressing complaints of the citizens.

For his part, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III expressed opposition to the proposed capital punishment but he agreed to the need to criminalize maintaining private armies.

“I agree that maintaining a private army and being part of a private army, whose members bear arms—whether licensed or unlicenses—in order to pursue or impose a private purpose or decision through force, intimidation, violence an/or killing, must be made a specific crime and panelized heavily,” Pimentel said.

“But since I am against the death penalty, I [am] open to agreeing to severe penalties short of the death penalty,” he added.

Dela Rosa’s recommendation came after the Senate public order and dangerous drugs investigated several cases of political killings and attacks in Negros Oriental, including that of slain Governor Roel Degamo. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News