‘Better law, justice first before death penalty’

Reimposing the death penalty for heinous crimes is not timely, according to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde.

While he is supporting proposals to revive capital punishment, Albayalde

yesterday stressed reforms in the judicial and law enforcement systems should be made first.

For Albayalde, the justice system should be “flawless,” where only the real offenders are found guilty before the death penalty can be restored.

As long as there are loopholes in the justice system, there is always a possibility that innocent people will be convicted, he said.

Albayalde admitted reforms should also be made on the law enforcement side where there should be no corrupt lawmen.

He previously said they are monitoring around 1,000 police officers with suspected links to illegal drugs.

This is the reason why drug syndicates are still confident in smuggling narcotics into the country, as there is always a possibility they would be protected by corrupt lawmen, he said.

Albayalde said President Duterte’s war on illegal drugs remains effective and a deterrent.

He cited the improving peace and order situation in the country as proof.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson, however, said without the death penalty, drug cartels will just make the country its playground.

Lacson made the pitch yesterday to reimpose capital punishment in the effort to discourage drug cartels operating in the country.

“We should also open our eyes to the reality. They will make this country a playground for drug lords because they play with impunity and it’s profitable for them,” Lacson told a forum.

Lacson admitted that restoring the death penalty is a controversial issue in the country.

“Yes. I’m one of the authors of restoring the death penalty. But it is a very contentious issue because it cannot take off from legislation. Up to now it is being debated in the plenary,” he said.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III earlier saw the need to reimpose the death penalty following the murder of a 16-year-old girl in Cebu.

Sotto admitted a majority of senators do not support the death penalty. He said he, Lacson and Sen. Manny Pacquiao are working to convince their fellow senators to support the death penalty measure.

“This time I was really concentrating on the high-level drug trafficking but with witnessing heinous crimes like this (Cebu killing). Majority of our people want the death penalty back for heinous crimes,” Sotto said.

“But then again we have three weeks to go, we resume in May, there is a chance that it gets approved,” he said.

Lawmakers are on congressional break for the campaign period for the May 13 elections.