Press Release
January 19, 2011

BONG REVILLA WANTS TO RESTORE DEATH PENALTY

In face of rising criminality, Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. expressed his desire to restore the death penalty for heinous crimes.

Bong Revilla said that "Criminals are becoming bolder. Hindi ko sukat maisip na may gagawa ng ganito," referring to the cases of Emerson Lozano, Ernani Sensil and Benson Evangelista, who after being car-jacked, were found shot in the head, mutilated, and burned beyond recognition. "Hindi na ito gawain ng tao," he added.

The senator also cited that now, even petty crimes like snatching and theft oftentimes result to murder. "Ngayon, nanakawan ka lang ng cellphone, papatayin ka na. Ang buhay ng tao, parang ang baba na ng halaga. It seems we have lost control," he lamented. He also pointed out the seeming increase in home invasions (akyat-bahay) and other crimes against property, like the "bukas kotse" and robbery/hold-up, which sadly, also oftentimes result to the killing of the victims.

Bong Revilla, who voted for the abolition of the death penalty in June 2006, asserts that times have changed, and stressed that the law must be able to cope with these changes. "Iba ang panahon noon, iba na ngayon. Parang nawala na ang takot ng tao sa batas. People now think they can literally get away with murder," the lawmaker said. "We must do something to take back control."

Although there are no statistics showing the capital punishment's effectivity as a deterrent to crime, the Senator believes that the death penalty will help in addressing the country's rising criminality. "The government must show its will in restoring order. This is a serious step in that direction," said Bong Revilla.

Meanwhile, the Senator called on the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to step up in ensuring the safety of the public. He said that the people entrusts their collective well-being to the State and it is incumbent upon the State to live-up to its responsibility.

"Nakakabahalang isipin na mawalan na ng tiwala ang taumbayan sa gobyerno at sa pulis kung hindi nito mapangangalagaan ang katiwasayan ng mga mamamayan. People may start to take the law into their own hands, and that would take us to a far worse situation," he ended.

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