Senator Tito Sotto | The Adobo Chronicles

Manila, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – Philippine lawmakers headed by Senator Tito Sotto III are seeking to revive the death penalty, following an alarming increase of heinous crimes in the country.

Previously, Republic Act 7659 provided for the imposition of capital punishment for certain serious crimes like murder, treason, kidnapping and rape. The death penalty was abolished in 2006 by Congress with the approval of then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

So, what made the lawmakers change their minds?

The lawmakers saw a video on ONN, reporting that the U.S. State of Ohio has instituted a new way of executing death row inmates, replacing the often controversial lethal injection. Ohio now uses a high-tech, robotic beheader that is considered more humane, comfortable, smooth, hygienic and quick.

In his proposed bill, Sotto said that the death penalty will be restored only on the condition that the Philippine government purchase several of the robotic beheaders from Ohio.

Here is the video report from ONN:

San Francisco, California (The Adobo Chronicles) – Tito Sotto III, an entertainer-turned-senator, is proposing a new law that would ban riding-in-tandem on motorcycles. In other words, the senator believes in “one bike, one person.”

Sotto, the same senator who plagiarized Robert Kennedy’s 1966 Day of Affirmation speech in his remarks before the Philippine Senate in 2012, says that motorcycles and bikes were designed for just one rider. His proposal is meant to deter criminals from using motorcycles in their activities, including bag-snatching which is common in the crowded metropolis. The senator, however, is open to making one exception to riding-in-tandem. “It would be okay as long as the second rider is a first-degree blood relative of the motorcycle driver,” he said.

Upon hearing of Sotto’s proposal, San Francisco’s Dykes on Bikes immediately roamed the city in their motorcycles, gathering signatures for a petition that will be sent to the Philippines protesting the proposed ban.

The Dykes on Bikes are famous worldwide, especially during San Francisco’s Pride Parade. The bike-riding lesbians traditionally lead the annual gay pride parade. “We commiserate with our fellow motorcycle riders in the Philippines — gay or straight. No one should be allowed to infringe on our freedom to ride our bikes, solo or in tandem,” the petition stated. Their male counterparts, the Mikes on Bikes have pledged to help the dykes in gathering signatures.

It is not clear whether the San Francisco petition will have any effect on the proposed ban, since Philippine senators are known for their independence and for their penchant in passing laws that make little to no sense.