The Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives on Thursday said it will maintain its stance against the reimposition of death penalty even if it means losing key posts in the lower chamber.
The progressive bloc made the statement following Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez’ announcement that House leaders who will not support the administration’s priority measure will be replaced.
In a press conference, ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. Antonio Tinio, chair of the House committee on public information, said he would not compromise his principles in an attempt to retain his chairmanship.
“If it comes to that, we don’t have any problem giving up our positions. We won’t turn our backs or let go of our principles and positions against the death penalty,” Tinio said in Filipino.
Apart from Tinio, other Makabayan lawmakers holding committee chair posts include Gabriela Rep. Emmi De Jesus for the poverty alleviation committee and Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate for the natural resources committee.
De Jesus stressed the need for mutual respect, noting that Alvarez should respect the members’ stand on the controversial issue in order to dispel doubts over his leadership.
“While there is respect, I think we could still maintain the status quo that still regards their leadership, as much as they also acknowledge our independence and principles,” De Jesus said.
Alvarez disclosed that death penalty for heinous crimes will no longer be mandatory in the proposed death penalty bill. This was agreed upon by members of the 266-strong “supermajority” coalition during a caucus on Wednesday afternoon.
Alvarez also said that reclusion perpetua or life imprisonment will be added as another option of punishment.
This means it will be up to the judge to decide on what penalty to impose from life imprisonment to death sentence.
Alvarez said that the number of heinous crimes has been trimmed down, but he did not name the specific items.
Alvarez, however, noted that the crime of plunder was delisted from the death penalty bill since there is already a special law which imposes the capital punishment for such crime.
Under the proposed measure, death penalty will be imposed on more than 20 offenses including illegal drug trafficking, arson, treason, murder, rape, kidnapping, and carnapping.
The mode of capital punishment could either be through hanging, by firing squad or lethal injection.
The imposition of death penalty has been suspended since 2006 with the enactment of Republic Act No. 9346, or “An Act Prohibiting the Imposition of Death Penalty in the Philippines.”
However, President Rodrigo Duterte has publicly declared that he wanted capital punishment reimposed on heinous crimes, especially on criminals involved in drug-trafficking. (PNA)
