Alcatraz-type jail eyed in lieu of death penalty

Senate President Vicente Sotto III is suggesting an alternative move should his colleagues continue to shun the proposed reimposition of the death penalty.

Sotto was referring to his Senate Bill No. 1, which proposes the establishment of a detention program and isolated facility for high-level drug traffickers.

Sotto is pushing for the reimposition of death penalty only for high-level drug offenders such as drug lords.

He filed the measure in July 2016, and has since been pending before Sen. Richard Gordon's Committee on Justice and Human Rights.

Under Sotto's bill, high-level illegal drug offender shall be detained in a separate penal facility to sever their influence on other inmates.

In the radio interview, Sotto suggested an Alcatraz-style detention facility for drug lords.

Alcatraz Island was a detention facility and fortress in San Francisco Bay, more than a mile from San Francisco, California which housed dangerous felons during its years of operation.

Putting them in a secluded island far from cell sites, Sotto said, will prevent them from carrying on their illegal drug activities and will help solve the country's drug problem.

"Ihiwalay natin sila no cell site, no communication. Pagkain dinadala lang sa kanila, parang Alcatraz style. Kung magpapalusot sila ng droga sila sila na lang at di sila makakapag benta. Wala nang operation kahit na drug lord ka pa (Let us isolate them. No cell sites, no communication. Their food will be delivered, just like in Alcatraz. Even if they are able to smuggle illegal drugs, they can no longer distribute the same),” he pointed out.

He urged critics of death penalty to support the bill, saying, "Ito ang magandang alternative (This is a good alternative)."