Senator Robin Padilla filed a bill on Monday that would authorize the death sentence for those who commit acts of sexual assault and violence. He noted that the present law on these crimes has to be “stronger.”
The objective of Padilla’s Senate Bill 2777 is to “strengthen the Anti-Rape Law of 1997 to make the offense punishable by death under aggravating circumstances,” which would lead to in tougher penalties for sexual assault.
The following cases could result in the application of the “reclusion perpetua to death” penalty under the bill:
- rape is committed with the use of a deadly weapon or by two or more persons
- victim becomes insane due to the rape
- rape is attempted and a homicide is committed during the crime
- rape is committed with any of the aggravating or qualifying circumstances in the article
“Despite the penalties under RA 8353, this representation still finds it compelling to increase the punishment for any person who shall commit an act of rape… By doing so, we can be more certain that our laws are stronger, more gender-responsive, and progressive especially in these changing times,” Padilla stated in a press release.
However, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has repeatedly rejected attempts to get the death sentence back, claiming that it “creates further problems in the disadvantaged, marginalized, and vulnerable sectors of society and does not improve crime rates.”
Photo courtesy: The New European