Press Release
February 7, 2017

Transcript of Interview with Senate President
Pro-Tempore Franklin M. Drilon

SFMD: Namatay po ang death penalty dahilan sa maliwanag naman na hindi natin pwedeng maibalik yung parusang pagpatay dahilan sa ating treaty commitment. Ang isang tratado po ay kasama sa ating batas at iyan po ay ating ni-ratify dito sa Senado, ni-ratify ng Pangulo ng ating bansa, at sinang-ayunan ng 2/3 ng Senado at iyan po ay naging part of the law of the land. Doon po ay bawal maibalik ang death penalty kaya hindi ko alam kung paano i-justify na ipapasa ang death penalty bill in the face of this clear international treaty obligation that we cannot impose the death penalty domestically.

Q: Ano po yung repercussion kung i-violate natin yung treaty?

SFMD: Maraming repercussions iyan as the Department of Justice said, it can always be cited, for purposes, say, denying us a preferential trade treatment in other country. Halimbawa, sa EU, mayroon tayong General System of Preference kung saan walang tariff an gating mga produkto. Now if we violate our international treaty then could be reviewed and that can be the basis for withdrawing the benefits. But more importantly we will be isolated from the international community, because we cannot even be trusted to honor our treaty obligation. Malaking bagay po iyan sa international arena na mabansagan tayo na hindi tumutupad sa ating international treaty.

Q: Ano po ang dapat gawin kung i-insist nila ang death penalty?

SFMD: Ang sa akin po, dapat let us go through the process of getting the concurrence of the Senate to withdraw, but again that is questionable. That is part of the law of the land; that is part of our Constitution now.

Q: For now it is a waste of time ba kung ituloy pa ang hearing?

SFMD: Debate pa rin tayo. Makinig tayo sa kanilang sinasabi pero sa ngayon ang sabi nga ni Chairman Gordon at sinang-ayunan ni Senator Lacson, eh ano pa ba ang pag-uusapan natin kung wala tayong kapangyarihan dahilan sa ating international treaty na ibalik yung death penalty.

Q: How many votes will it take to withdraw?

SFMD: I don't even know. That is a matter that has not been settled. The ability to withdraw is something that is not a settled question because there is no process of withdrawal in this particular treaty. Unlike other treaties that giving a notice is an effective way of withdrawing, in this particular case there is no provision that allows the withdrawal. Iyon ang problema.

Hanggang hindi tayo umaalis doon sa treaty na iyon hindi tayo pwedeng gumawa ng batas?

SFMD: Pwede tayong gumawa ng batas pero that will be a violation of our international treaty obligation and we face the consequences.

Uulitin ko lang, sa ibang tratado na ating pinasukan mayroon ng provision na magbibigay ng notice, dito wala.

Q: Ano ang masasabi ninyo na sa House nasa second reading na?

SFMD: The House is an independent institution, that is why there is a system of checks and balance within the legislature.

Q: Unconstitutional ito kapag naipasa?

SFMD: It can be questioned in the Supreme Court.

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