By Roy Pelovello

A bill has been filed in the House of Representatives seeking to restore the death penalty solely on cases involving dangerous drugs.

Muntinlupa Rep. Rufino Biazon filed the bill in the wake of the controversy generated by the arrest of three affluent residents of Alabang on suspicion of drug trafficking.

In House Bill 5714, Biazon proposed to amend Republic Act 9346, or ?an Act Prohibiting the Imposition of Death Penalty in the Philippines,? which was enacted only in 2006.

Biazon said Congress repealed the death penalty law, but it still has the discretion to restore the capital punishment if deems necessary.

?It [the Constitution] gave Congress the power to impose the death penalty for compelling reasons involving heinous crimes,? Biazon pointed out.

Under Biazon?s proposal, death penalty may be imposed in cases covered by the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (RA 9165), ?where the penalty of death shall be by lethal injection.?

?The menace of illegal drug trade remains a serious threat despite the concerted efforts of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and other government agencies to stop it,? Biazon said. ?The non-imposition of the death penalty only emboldens those involved in this illicit industry that destroys the family, takes the lives of its victims and wreaks havoc in the Philippine society.?

Church leaders and some lawmakers are opposed to the restoration of death penalty, saying that it has never been a deterrent to crime.

?There may be truth to such an argument but the fear of dying is a very strong motivation to hinder an individual from doing a certain type of activity?such as selling illegal drugs,? Biazon said.

He also refuted arguments that imprisonment is sufficient punishment for those who committed crimes, and that it?s possible for a life-term convict to be reformed.

?But it has been shown by experience that incarceration does not deter one who is engaged in illegal drug trafficking from committing the same crime. There have been instances where the illegal drug trade is continued even if the convicted trafficker is behind bars,? Biazon said.