View from inside the lethal injection chamber at the National Penitentiary in Manila, 09 January 2004. Joel Nito, AFP Photo/File

MANILA — Sen. Robin Padilla on Monday filed a bill seeking to allow death penalty for perpetrators of sexual assault and violence, noting that the current law on such crimes needs to be "stronger."

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Padilla's Senate Bill 2777 seeks heavier penalties for sexual assault by "strengthening the Anti-Rape Law of 1997 to make the offense punishable by death under aggravating circumstances."

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Under the bill, the penalty of "reclusion perpetua to death" may apply in the following cases:

• 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 said in a press release.

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Padilla, a neophyte senator, has been advocating for the revival of death penalty for some cases.

Last year, he filed a bill seeking to allow death penalty for politicians and law enforcers convicted of facilitating or benefitting from the drug trade in the country. 

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has repeatedly opposed moves to revive death penalty, saying it "does not improve crime rates and it also creates further problems in the disadvantaged, marginalized, and vulnerable sectors of society."

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