Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa on Thursday floated the revival of the death penalty for corrupt politicians and government officials during a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the alleged flood control scandal.
Dela Rosa pressed former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo on whether the death penalty could curb corruption.
“Kung makapasa tayo ng batas ng death penalty para sa mga korap na mga politiko at government officials, matatakot ka kaya?” Dela Rosa asked.
Bernardo replied that while corruption might not be eradicated, the harsher punishment would likely instill fear among erring officials.
“Palagay ko po maraming matatakot talaga doon. Hindi ko masasabing mawawala totally pero tiyak mababawasan,” he said.
Dela rosa replied: "Mas maganda mayroon tayong death penalty. Coming from his mouth umamin na siya nagkakasala na gumawa siya ng kalokohan pero kung meron tayong death penalty hindi niya gagawin ‘yun dahil matakot siya."
Dela Rosa later emphasized, reiterating his stance that capital punishment could help in the government’s anti-corruption campaign.
Jail or death?
Committee chair Senator Ping Lacson then turned the tables on Dela Rosa, asking him what he would choose if given the same options: death penalty or life imprisonment at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa.
“Considering the living conditions sa Muntinlupa, ako, pipiliin ko pa death penalty,” Lacson quipped.
But Dela Rosa, who once served as Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief and actively pushed for the death penalty for the crime of plunder amid issues of corruption and involvement in anomalous flood control projects, replied that he would rather be jailed.
“Pipiliin ko Muntinlupa. Enjoy-in ko pa Muntinlupa. Pwede ka pa mag-negosyo doon. ‘Yung iba nga doon nagnegosyo ng shabu eh, druglord pa rin hanggang ngayon,” he said, drawing laughter and surprise from those in attendance.
Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III quickly moved to have Dela Rosa’s remark stricken from the official record.
Dela Rosa previously led the Philippine National Police (PNP) and BuCor before becoming a senator. He has long advocated for the reimposition of the death penalty, particularly for heinous crimes and drug-related offenses.
