Death penalty revival sought following Batocabe’s killing

Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) founding chairman and Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) chairman Dante Jimenez asked President Duterte to reimpose the death penalty following the recent killing of Ako Bicol party-list Representative Rodel Batocabe.

Jimenez pointed out that reimposing the death penalty would deter such crimes.

Meantime, Philippine National Police chief Director General Oscar Albayalde, during a press briefing at Camp Ola in Legazpi City on Wednesday, said the possible involvement of New People’s Army rebels in the killing is not being totally discounted.

Albayalde likewise assured that there will be no white wash or ‘fall guy’ in Batocabe slay probe amid pressures to solve the killing.

Death penalty

“Are we going to wait for another lawmaker or a senator to be killed similarly with Batocabe and other victims of senseless killings?” Jimenez said in a statement.

Jimenez asked that the death penalty bill be made urgent as soon as Congress reopens following its holiday break as he expressed his sympathies to the families of Batocabe and his slain security officer, SPO2 Orlando Diaz.

Reports stated that Batocabe and Diaz were shot at close range by unidentified men when they were about to board their vehicle after a gift-giving program for senior citizens in Barangay Burgos in Daraga, Albay last Sunday.

Batocabe filed his certificate of candidacy for Daraga mayor ahead of the 2019 midterm elections.

Challenge to Congress

Jimenez also challenged Congress to pass the bill to instill fear on “gunsfor-hire” which he lamented has now become a “cottage industry.”

He recounted that his brother, Jaime Jimenez Jr., was also killed on Dec. 20, 1990 by “guns-for-hire” suspects hired by a drug queen.