Senate assures debates on death penalty

Newly-elected Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said yesterday that death penalty debate in the Senate would be a “full-blown, no restraint” discussion.

Recto, who said he is against the death penalty bill, made the assurance following criticisms against the House of Representatives that passed the death penalty bill in second reading.

“At whatever level, the discussions will not be abbreviated. It will be open mic for all,” Recto said in a statement.

Besides, he said “it has never been the Senate’s tradition to curtail the airing of ideas.”

“That has been the way bills are made in the Senate: They go through the filter provided by members,” he said.

“There’s no gag rule here. Everyone has the right to say his piece,” he added.

Recto also said debates on proposals to restore capital punishment would be “tough and thorough,” because the hardest vote for a legislator to cast is on bills that will “send men to war or to death.”

He said he agrees with his fellow senators’ observation that despite its approval in the Lower House, the death penalty bill will not be an “urgent priority measure” in the Senate.

He explained most of the senators believe there are many good measures in the Senate pipeline which came ahead and must be passed into laws first.

“Let’s try passing life improvement bills first. Before passing the death penalty bill, wouldn’t it be better if lawmakers first focus on bills that would provide jobs?

“Improvement of lives should take precedence over death,” he said.

Recto also said there is a need to “improve and modernize law enforcement, prosecution service, the courts, and the prison system.”