Death-penalty enthusiasts

With President Duterte again making a push in his State of the Nation
Address for the reinstatement of the death penalty, dutiful noises are
being heard from his claque in Congress. The Senate looms as the
battleground, the House of Representatives having earlier approved on third
and final reading House Bill No. 4727, which seeks to impose capital
punishment on drug convicts.

Certain new senators, apart from the President’s longtime allies in the
chamber such as Manny Pacquiao, are expectedly taking an ovine stance in
relation to his fresh push.

With President Duterte again making a push in his State of the Nation Address for the
reinstatement of the death penalty, dutiful noises are being heard from his claque in Congress.
The Senate looms as the battleground, the House of Representatives having earlier approved
on third and final reading House Bill No. 4727, which seeks to impose capital punishment on
drug convicts.

Certain new senators, apart from the President’s longtime allies in the chamber such as Manny
Pacquiao, are expectedly taking an ovine stance in relation to his fresh push.

Imee Marcos, for example, now expresses openness to capital punishment after having worked
for its abolition way back when she was a member of the House. But she displays a curious
squeamishness at what she considers brutal methods like hanging — “Diyos ko, huwag… Sobrang
lupit naman nun…” — as though the “lupit” of torture, killings and disappearances were not
hallmarks of her father’s long martial rule, and as though state murder were not in fact an
act of high brutality no matter what method is employed.

On the other hand, Bato “Shit happens” dela Rosa can’t be bothered by seeming niceties,
gleefully proposing what he thinks drug dealers should have coming: ‘tin.”