Senator Robinhood Padilla on Monday, April 17, proposed the passage of a measure that will impose the death penalty on security personnel involved in murder cases.
The senator made the proposal after reports came out that security personnel trained in the use of high-powered firearms took part in the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo on March 4.
“It is clear that our soldiers who lost their way despite being given the proper orientation and ideology deserve harsher penalties,” said Padilla during the hearing of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs.
He said harsher penalties should be imposed on those who betray their oath to protect the people.
‘’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 said.
Last month, Padilla filed Senate Bill (SB) No.2042, or the proposed “Anti-Scalawag Act,” which 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 senator 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.”
Under the bill, 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.
