By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

After Senator Franklin Drilon revealed last week he believed the bill proposing the restoration of the death penalty was “dead,” claiming there were already 13 senators opposing the measure, Senator Juan Edgardo ‘Sonny’ Angara said he is still undecided on the issue.
“We’ve only had one committee hearing and I haven’t heard about the oral arguments,” he said. “For me, it’s still premature.”
The senator suggested more hearings.
Angara also said the vote will likely be closer than Drilon projected, asserting the number in opposition is closer to 11 or 12.
“Whether it is a win or a loss, it’s going to be close,” the senator explained. “A matter of one or two votes.”
House Bill 4727, which seeks to reestablish the death penalty, was approved by congress last March with 217 in favor, 54 against, and one abstention.
Earlier, the Diocese of Bacolod said senators should be “guided by Christian conscience” and reiterated their call for lawmakers to, instead, reform the criminal justice system./WDJ