3 days ago
Bato refiles death penalty bill vs drug traffickers
Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa on Wednesday refiled in the 20th Congress a measure that seeks to restore the death penalty for large-scale drug traffickers.
The bill on capital punishment for large-scale illegal drug trafficking, which Dela Rosa has been pushing since 2019, topped the lawmaker's 10 priority legislative measures for the incoming 20th Congress.
Dela Rosa served as chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) during the Duterte administration and was the lead implementer of the war on drugs. Former President Rodrigo Duterte is now detained at The Hague, Netherlands over charges of crimes against humanity for the extrajudicial killings during the drug war.
Also included in Dela Rosa's priority bills were the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) Act, Amendment to Party-list System Act, End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) Act, and Anti-Drug Abuse Council Act.
Healthcare
Senator JV Ejercito also filed his 10 priority bills on Wednesday, including a proposed P74.4-billion Supplemental Appropriations for PhilHealth to strengthen the country's health insurance system and uphold the mandate of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law.
Ejercito, principal sponsor of the UHC Act, underscored the importance of the supplemental budget amid the rising medical costs.
He also filed a measure seeking to suspend excise taxes on regular gasoline, unleaded premium gasoline and diesel; and a separate bill on the P250 Daily Minimum Wage Increase Act and Motorcycle Taxi Act, among others.
Meanwhile, included in Senator Imee Marcos' priority bills were the National Minimum Wage Act, Budget Modernization Act, Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) Act, and the National Tax Allotment Act.
Senators started filing their priority legislative measures for the 20th Congress on Monday, June 30. The new Congress is set to convene its first session day on July 28. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
