MANILA – Opposition Sen. Leila de Lima is pushing for qualified reclusion perpetua as substitute for death penalty, eyed to be re-imposed by some administration-aligned senators.
In her Senate Bill No. 187, de Lima wanted to mete punishment of life imprisonment on extraordinary heinous crimes, such as drug cases and plunder, in lieu of the death penalty.
If enacted into law, de Lima’s measure will impose qualified reclusion perpetua on persons found guilty of treason, piracy, murder, infanticide, kidnapping and serious illegal detention, robbery with violence against or intimidation of persons, destructive arson, rape, plunder and violations of the Dangerous Drug Act of 2002.
The measure covers other extraordinary heinous crimes such as carnapping, human trafficking, acts of violence against women and children, violations of Republic Act 9851 or the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity, torture and terrorism.
Aside from qualified reclusion perpetua or imprisonment of 50 years with no possibility of parole, those guilty of extraordinary heinous crimes will be fined P5-million under the measure.
“As the efficacy and morality of the death penalty is questionable at best, there is a need to legislate an alternative punishment against extraordinary heinous crimes,” de Lima said.
“The penalty of qualified reclusion perpetua and a fine of P5-million, will send a clear message that we do not take heinous crimes lightly nor do we condone those who perpetrate them,” she added.
De Lima warned the Philippines, as a signatory, will be in violation of the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights if death penalty is restored.
“On the other hand, legislating commensurate punishment against heinous crime offenders other than death penalty will not only be legal and moral, but also more practical,” said de Lima./PN
