By Roy Pelovello

THREE lawmakers are seeking the inclusion of drug trafficking and death penalty in the agenda of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council.

President Arroyo has yet to schedule a meeting of the council but this early, the lawmakers said they wanted to know the direction they will take when it comes to these issues.

The congressmen, Mauricio Domogan of Baguio City, Jeci Lapus of Tarlac and Alvin Sandoval of Malabon-Navotas, said a forum like the council meeting will serve as guide for them in crafting the law dealing with these issues.

Moves to restore the death penalty, which was abolished by Congress in 2006, surfaced following the controversy generated by the case of the ?Alabang Boys,? referring to the three Alabang residents accused of drug peddling.

In a statement, Baguio Rep. Mauricio Domogan said the inclusion of these matters in the next Ledac meeting is necessary to find out the official stand of President Arroyo on the issue to provide lawmakers a guidance in their effort to boost the government?s anti-drug campaign.

Domogan, vice chairman of the House committee on justice, said it is useless for the lawmakers to push for such measures only to be rejected by the President.

Domogan said lawmakers would also like to know from the executive if it has any alternative proposal to the revival of the death penalty.

Tarlac Rep. Jeci Lapus, vice chairman of the committee on good government and public accountability, said the inclusion of the problem of drug trafficking in the Ledac meeting will promote greater understanding and collaboration between the executive and legislative in dealing with this issue.

?The campaign against illegal drugs, including the proposed revival of death penalty against drug offenders, should be in the Ledac agenda as Congress has its own share in solving the problem,? said Lapus.

Malabon-Navotas Rep. Alvin Sandoval said Congress would like to know what priority measures need to be pushed and supported to improve the campaign against illegal drugs, like minimizing systematic discord among anti-drug agencies.

The proposal to restore the death penalty created a deep division among members of the House of Representatives.

Muntinlupa Rep. Rufino Biazon backed the proposal, saying he himself would file a bill for the restoration of the death penalty against drug trafficking and other drug-related crimes.

Speaker Prospero Nograles said he is open to the proposal, adding that if the proper committee endorses the restoration of death penalty for drug offenses, he would support it.

Reps. Edcel Lagman of Albay, Roilo Golez and Eduardo Zialcita (both of Para?aque) have opposed the death penalty, saying it has not proven to be a deterrent to crime.