Duterte again calls for return of death penalty by lethal injection

Asia Pacific Report — Mon, 27 Jul 2020 12:18:01 +0000

By Pia Ranada in Manila

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, for the third time, used his State of the Nation Address (SONA) to call on Congress to reinstate the death penalty for violators of the country’s anti-drugs law.

“I reiterate the swift passage of a law reviving the death penalty by lethal injection for crimes specified under the Comprehensive Dangerous [Drugs] Act of 2002,” said Duterte today during his fifth SONA.

He even teased lawmakers who appeared unenthusiastic about his call.

Earlier today demonstrators protested against the president over his dictatorial policies, draconian anti-terrorism law and handling of the coronavirus pandemic which has seen more than 80,000 infections and 2000 deaths in the Philippines.

“I did not hear so much clapping so I presume that they are not interested [in then death penalty]. Someday I will tell you the story of what happened in the Philippines,” said Duterte.

At this point, he digressed from his written speech to launch a familiar monologue about how illegal drugs harm Filipino youths and how Philippine drug syndicates operate like those in Colombia and Mexico.

Death penalty law failed for four years
For the past four years of the Duterte presidency, Congress has failed to pass a law reinstating the death penalty.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III had previously said that a law reserving the death penalty for high-level drug traffickers stood a better chance of getting through the Senate.

Duterte had used his fourth SONA and secind SONA to push for capital punishment, but it had been his call since since 2016 when he was a presidential candidate.

But his support for the death penalty has earned him criticism from European Parliament lawmakers and human rights groups both in the Philippines and abroad.

Pia Ranada is a reporter for Rappler independent news website in the Philippines.

A protest float depicting President Rodrigo Duterte as “The Joker” in today’s demonstrations in Manila. Image: Al Jazeera screenshot

Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz

Police chief to Manila democracy protesters – ‘Just do it online’

Asia Pacific Report — Mon, 20 Jul 2020 12:17:54 +0000

“We are requesting, if you can, just do it online. Because these are not ordinary times,” Gamboa said in a mix of English and Filipino.

In SONA protests, activist groups usually deliver a counterpoint to the president’s rendition of current events in his or her report to Congress.

The protests usually consist of marches and stage presentations, but General Gamboa warned that mass gatherings continue to be prohibited under quarantine rules.

The PNP did not mention how it will respond to street protests for this year’s SONA on July 27, but it has established a record of arresting demonstrators, even those who follow health protocols.

On June 26, Manila police arrested 20 LGBTQI+ activists during the annual Pride March. It has also arrested more than a dozen protesters in Cebu and in Laguna for holding programmes against the controversial Anti-Terror Law.

Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz

SONA – Evening Report

Duterte again calls for return of death penalty by lethal injection

Police chief to Manila democracy protesters – ‘Just do it online’