Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, on Thursday, June 2, has expressed his willingness to re-file a measure in the next Congress reinstating the death penalty for certain heinous crimes in the country.

In July 2019, Go introduced Senate Bill No. 207 which seeks to reinstate capital punishment for illegal drugs and plunder. As the bill failed to pass in the 18th Congress, the senator expressed his willingness to file it again.

“Anyway we can file it again if we want. Itong SB 207, reinstating the death penalty for certain heinous crimes involving dangerous drugs and plunder,” said Go in an ambush interview after his monitoring visit of the Malasakit Center at the Davao Oriental Provincial Medical Center in Mati City.

Go emphasized that the reinstatement of the death penalty is in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s crusade against illegal drugs, criminality and corruption. He added that the law can discourage criminal activities.

“Ang kampanya po ni Pangulong Duterte laban sa droga, kriminalidad at korapsyon sa gobyerno ay dapat ipagpatuloy. Sayang po ‘yung gains na ginawa natin,” explained Go.

Go continued, “‘Pag bumalik po ang droga, babalik na naman po ang korapsyon at kriminalidad. Kasi makokorap na naman ‘yung tao ‘pag nandyan ‘yung droga.”

“‘Pag hindi takot ‘yung tao sa mga awtoridad, makokorap na naman, balik ang droga, balik ang kriminalidad. Sayang po ‘yung inumpisahan ni Pangulong Duterte,” he added.

Under Go’s proposed measure, plunder, or the illegal acquisition of wealth by a public officer with an aggregate amount of at least PhP50 million will be punishable by death.

Drug-related crimes will also be subject to capital punishment. These specifically refer to the importation, distribution and possession of dangerous drugs or essential chemicals; the maintenance of dens for related activities; the cultivation of illicit narcotic plants; the unlawful prescription of dangerous drugs; the misapplication of confiscated drugs by public officers; and the planting of evidence.

Go maintained that the Duterte Administration’s campaign against corruption, illegal drugs and crime improved the peace and order in the country and allowed communities and businesses to flourish.

“So, ako naman po, napatunayan naman po in the last six years, tingnan ninyo mas nakakalakad po ang inyong mga anak pauwi sa inyong bahay na hindi nababastos at hindi nasasaktan. Dahil po iyan sa ginawa ng Administrasyong Duterte,” said Go.

According to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency’s Real Numbers report as of March 2022, a total of 14,888 high-value targets had been captured since the drug war began in July 2016. Authorities have also seized illegal drugs worth PhP88.83 billion across the country, including PhP76.17 billion in shabu.

Despite these gains, Go advised the government not to rest on its laurels and to step up its campaign against these “ills of society”, adding that he will continue to push for the measure in the Senate.

“Ako, ipu-push ko pa rin. I will still push for it. Pero ang tanong ay kung susuportahan ng 23 (na iba pang) senador sa susunod na kongreso,” he ended.