For peace and safety: Jinggoy lauds Senate approval of Chemical Weapons ban

(POLITIKO) Senate Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada has hailed the Senate passage of the proposed Chemical Weapons Prohibition Act.

“Thirty-one years after the Philippines signed the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), and 28 years since the Senate concurred in the ratification of the same, finally we are one step closer to fulfilling our commitment of enacting a national legislation to fully implement its provisions and join the international community in the ongoing efforts to completely eliminate chemical weapons and prohibit its use,” he said.

The Senate unanimously approved on Monday (Dec. 9) the proposed measure under Senate Bill No. 2871.

“Ang pagpasa natin ng batas na ito ay hindi lamang pagtupad sa ating international obligation bilang State Party sa CWC, at pakikiisa sa paglaho ng chemical weapons at stockpiles sa buong mundo, at ang pagpigil sa paggamit at posibleng re-emergence nito,” said Estrada who chairs the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security.

“Higit sa lahat, ito po ay isang hakbang sa pagsiguro ng kaligtasan at kapayapaan para sa mga susunod na henerasyon,” he added.

The proposed measure is aimed at banning the development, production, possession, transfer and use of chemical weapons in the country.

The approved version of the measure incorporates a provision that explicitly prohibits the financing of activities related to the development, production, acquisition, stockpiling, retention, use, or transfer of chemical weapons.

The bill imposes a penalty of 20 years imprisonment up to life imprisonment and a fine ranging between P500,000 to P1 million against any person who finances the development, production, acquisition, stockpiling, retention, transfer, or use of chemical weapons shall suffer the penalty of 20 years imprisonment up to life imprisonment, and a fine ranging between P500,000 to P1 million.

Also any person who engages in the development, production, acquisition, stockpiling, retention, transfer, or use of chemical weapons shall incur a penalty of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Additionally, the offender will be fined not less than P2 million but not more than P5 million.

The penalties for other prohibited acts under the proposed measure include imprisonment ranging from six years and a fine of up to P2 million.