Arguing to re-impose the death penalty for convicted drug traffickers (as Congress is presently considering), University of the Philippines-Baguio managed to slip past favored Ateneo de Zamboanga University  (ADZU) via a split decision in last Wednesday's Square Off: Frankahan--The Drilon Debates.

As one adjudicator declared, it was the simple but consistent argumentation of UP-Baguio that handed them the win.

Best Speaker Arlene Bonifacio defined UP-Baguio's parameters well. They pushed for government to take a harder stance on drug trafficking. They argued that the state's inherent police power to come up with certain measures to protect the interest of the majority allows it to use the death penalty.  They also asserted that death by lethal injection is a commensurate punishment for  convicted traffickers because drugs fuel other heinous crimes like murder and homicide. Drugs not only destroy the lives of the user and his family but also the victims of these drug-related crimes and their families as well.

UP-Baguio argued that re-imposing the death penalty would lessen these crimes, citing studies that showed that increasing the risks associated with certain acts had an inversely proportional relationship to committing these acts. And the risk of losing one's life has to be the biggest risk of all.

Meanwhile, Ateneo de Zamboanga dissented by saying that the death of one drug suspect doesn't guarantee the end of the illegal drug trade. They further argued that death is a "sweet escape" for  drug offenders  and that  keeping them in jail will turn them into enduring lessons that others can learn from. Furthermore, the state can use these convicted suspects to crack down on other drug traffickers.

ADZU added that reinforcing the government's existing policies of law enforcement, rehabilitation and information dissemination are enough, and that a policy of executing convicted drug trafficers would only work if it's done regularly, which the state, they claimed, could not afford to do.

However, UP-Baguio stood its ground. The 3 girls maintained that ADZU's proposals already exist in the status quo and have not proved effective. They insisted that with the gravity of the drug menace, the state has to take a harder line.

This bold but consistent stance of UP-Baguio left a bigger impression on the adjudicators, who contrasted the consistency of the government side with the opposition, which lacked teamwork and seemed to be arguing different things. Declaring it a victory of Matter over Manner, the judges put  UP Baguio through to the Quarterfinals.

You can catch Square Off: Frankahan - The Drilon Debates every Wednesdays, 8-9 pm, with replays every Thursday 1 pm, Saturday 1 pm and Sunday 2 am.