MANILA – Malacañang on Tuesday said the proposal to reinstate the death penalty for major drug trafficking offenses requires careful study, particularly its implications for the Philippines’ international relations.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. would withhold his position until the proposal has been thoroughly assessed.
“Hindi po muna magbibigay ng anumang stance ang Pangulo. Hayaan nating aralin ito nang mas malalim (The President will not take a position on the matter for now. Let us allow it to be studied more thoroughly),” Castro said in a Palace press briefing.
She was responding to Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla’s support for restoring capital punishment for major drug trafficking offenses, despite the Philippines’ advocacy for the abolition of the death penalty across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Castro said Remulla’s position was understandable given his experience pursuing individuals involved in illegal activities.
“Kung ano ang kaniyang pananaw ay irespeto natin sa ngayon, ngunit ang usaping death penalty ay dapat na inaaral at binubusisi (We respect his position for now, but the issue of the death penalty needs to be studied and examined carefully),” she said.
Castro noted that some neighboring countries oppose the death penalty, which could affect the Philippines’ efforts on other international concerns, including asylum-related matters.
She said the Palace would defer to the Department of Foreign Affairs for a more detailed explanation of the country’s position on regional cooperation against drug trafficking.
The issue arose following reports linking transnational drug syndicate Sam Gor to 521 kilograms of suspected shabu seized in Laos, which authorities reportedly believed was intended for the Philippines.
Castro said Marcos had directed law enforcement agencies to intensify anti-drug operations and hold accountable those involved in smuggling and other criminal activities.
“Kaya nga iyan ang utos ng Pangulo. Sugpuin ang kontrabando, ang mga illegal na droga na sumisira sa buhay ng mga Pilipino. Hindi puwedeng magtulog-tulugan dito (That is exactly why the President ordered it. Suppress smuggling and the illegal drugs that are destroying the lives of Filipinos. We cannot afford to pretend to be asleep here),” she said.
She stressed the need to dismantle drug networks regardless of how deeply rooted their operations may be.
“Malalim man ang pinaghuhugutan ng ganitong klaseng mga krimen, kailangan itong bunutin at dapat na mawala sa Pilipinas (No matter how deeply rooted these crimes are, they must be uprooted and eliminated from the Philippines),” she said.
Castro added that Marcos regularly receives reports from the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency on illegal drug activities and has ordered authorities to arrest those found committing crimes.
She said the administration would continue supporting law enforcement efforts to combat illegal drugs and bring those responsible to justice.
