Death penalty for soldiers involved in murder pushed

CEBU, Philippines — Senator Robinhood Padilla wants death penalty to be imposed on security personnel involved in murder to prevent a repeat of the massacre of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo.

At the hearing of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs on Degamo's killing on Monday, Padilla stressed the need for harsher penalties against those who betray their oath to protect the people.

"Malinaw naman po na itong ating mga bayaning sundalo na naligaw ng landas, ito po ay mga nabigyan po ito ng tamang orientation, tamang ideology, tamang pagiisip, na naligaw, hindi ba po dapat mas matindi ang parusa dito Mahal na Tagapangulo, dahil ito nanumpa sa taumbayan na sila magiging tagapagligtas, tagapagtanggol, at ito ay nakagawa ng krimen (It is clear that our soldiers who lost their way despite being given the proper orientation and ideology deserve harsher penalties. It is because they took an oath to protect and defend the people, yet commit such heinous crimes)," he said.

"Siguro po sasang-ayon kayo sa akin na isang taong pinagaral ng gobyerno, ginastusan ng taumbayan upang siya ay bigyan ng proteksyon ay gagamitin isang araw para magbigay ng isang krimen na gugulatin ang sambayanang Pilipinas at gagamitin niya ang training na ito (I am sure you will agree with me that this is the way to deal with those who are trained by the government using taxpayers' money and then use their training to commit such heinous crimes)," he added.

Also, Padilla said the death penalty is appropriate for those who took an oath before God and the Filipino people to be defenders, only to turn their backs on such an oath.

Committee Chairman Ronald dela Rosa agreed with Padilla that such personnel be given harsher penalties.

"Tama ang policy direction mo na binabanggit. I am with you kung mag-file ka ng measure towards that direction, you can expect my full cooperation. I will support you (Your policy direction is the right one. I am with you if you file such a measure towards that direction. You can expect my full cooperation. I will support you)," he said.

Padilla filed last March 22 Senate Bill 2042 or the proposed "Anti-Scalawag Act," which Padilla also provides harsh penalties on any person who would recruit, maintain, use, aid, fund or train security personnel to commit murder and for other purposes.

"The merciless killings perpetrated by scalawags or individuals who are former or present members of law enforcement agencies or paramilitary forces of the government have been so perverse and repugnant that it gravely threatens our civilized and orderly society. It also puts the good name of our law enforcement agencies to guarantee public safety and security," Padilla said in his bill.

He added the involvement of former security personnel in the brutal killing of Degamo is "deeply concerning" as he noted the killers were once entrusted with the task of safeguarding our country and were trained by the government at great expense to do so.

Because of this, he said the use of such specialized training "to carry out such a horrific crime is unacceptable."

Padilla said his bill is "a step towards sending a strong message that the government will not tolerate the misuse of specialized training and skills for criminal purposes."

"Lest we forget that we owe it to our citizens to ensure that they are protected from those who would seek to harm them, especially those who have been entrusted with the responsibility of safeguarding our nation," he said.

The bill covers active or former personnel of the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Philippine Coast Guard, government intelligence agencies, and paramilitary forces trained by the government.

Under the proposed measure, the death sentence shall not be inflicted on a woman while she is pregnant or within one year after delivery, or on anyone aged 70 up. In the latter case, the death sentence shall be commuted to 40 years in jail. — FPL (FREEMAN)