Makabayan: We won’t trade death penalty stand for perks, posts
Lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc on Thursday said they are willing to give up their committee posts if it would compromise their opposition on the bill restoring the death penalty.
During a press conference at the House of Representatives, the militant lawmakers said they would maintain their position against the death penalty even at the risk of losing their juicy posts.
Among the Makabayan solons, the following have key committee positions – Act Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio chairing the public information committee, Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate chairing the natural resources committee, and Gabriela Rep. Emmi De Jesus chairing the poverty alleviation committee.
READ: Makabayan lawmakers vow to work hard
While they were given chairperson posts as perks for aligning with the supermajority that elected Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez as House Speaker, they may soon give up their positions after Alvarez said he would be stripping of juicy posts lawmakers who would oppose the death penalty in Congress.
Tinio said he would be willing to relinquish his post when the time comes that he has to assert his opposition on death penalty.
“Kung umabot sa ganun, edi wala tayong problema na i-give up ang ating posisyon. Dahil hindi natin tatalikuran, bibitawan ang ating prinsipyo at posisyon kontra sa death penalty,” Tinio said.
(When it comes to that, we have no problem giving up our positions. Because we will not turn our backs on or let go of our principles and positions against death penalty.)
De Jesus said she is hoping that the House leadership would respect the members’ position on controversial administration bills, adding that the Makabayan would remain with the majority as long as the leadership respects their position.
“Hanggang naroon ang respetuhan, palagay ko mananatili ang aming status quo, na kami ay kumikilala sa kanila, as much as kinikilala rin nila ang independence at paninindigan namin,” De Jesus said.
(While respect is there, I think we can still retain our status quo that recognizes their leadership, as much as they also recognize our independence and principles.)
Anakpawis Rep. Ariel Casilao said the bloc has always maintained its independence, adding that they are not willing to compromise their positions for the sake of perks and positions.
“In the history of our representation in Congress never has Makabayan sacrificed its principles for the matter of positions, perks and privileges,” Casilao said.
The Makabayan said it would maintain its position against death penalty, even though the majority caucus has agreed that death will no longer be mandatory under the proposed reimposition of capital punishment on heinous crimes.
READ: House majority: Death no longer mandatory in capital punishment bill
The majority agreed to give the judges a choice to impose reclusion perpetua or life imprisonment on heinous crimes.
The lawmakers also scored Alvarez for “arm-twisting” lawmakers into voting for the controversial measure.
Alvarez has also threatened deputy speakers–including former president now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo–that they would have to relinquish their posts if they oppose death penalty. Arroyo is against the reimposition of capital punishment.
READ: House leadership forces vote on death penalty | Anti-death penalty Arroyo has to go as deputy speaker – Alvarez
Act Rep. France Castro said she and other neophyte lawmakers shared a sense of surprise on Alvarez’s “attitude.”
“As a new legislator, nabigla ako sa ganung naging attitude ni Speaker. Pero tingnan natin, sana maunawaan yung position ng mga congressman,” Castro said.
(As a new legislator, I am surprised at the Speaker’s attitude. But let’s see, I hope he understands our position.)
Alvarez has denied arm-twisting the lawmakers, but maintained that he is only giving the majority lawmakers two choices –either you’re with us, or against us.
READ: Pro-life solon hits Alvarez for ‘arm-twisting’ death penalty vote
“The only chance they get is you go with the majority leadership, or you don’t,” Alvarez said.
“It is the policy of the leadership,” he added.
Alvarez earlier said the proposed reimposition of death penalty in Congress would no longer make capital punishment mandatory, giving the judges or justices the option to impose life imprisonment on heinous crimes.
READ: House majority: Death no longer mandatory in capital punishment bill
The House leadership is forcing a vote on the death penalty following a gridlock in the Senate.
Alvarez said the ruling political party Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) will come up with a party stand on the death penalty. At least 100 of the 290-strong chamber are from the PDP-Laban.
At least nine of the 24 senators have expressed opposition to the death penalty as the Senate started its committee deliberations on the restoration of capital punishment.
Meanwhile, 10 are pro-death penalty, while four are pushing for capital punishment only on drug-related cases.
The Senate deliberations centered on the country’s obligations to the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which under the Second Optional Protocol states that “Each State Party shall take all necessary measures to abolish the death penalty within its jurisdiction.”
READ: Solons torn between death penalty and international treaty
House Bill 4727 restoring death penalty is seen to be a priority legislation in the House of Representatives.
The bill seeks to impose death penalty on more than 20 heinous offenses, such as rape with homicide, kidnapping for ransom, and arson with death.
READ: Death penalty ‘priority’ bill of lower house — Umali
Speaker Alvarez, President Duterte’s staunch ally in Congress, was among the authors of the bill seeking to reimpose the death penalty after former President now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo abolished capital punishment in 2006 for its failure to deter crime.
Alvarez filed the bill pursuant to President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign promise of returning capital punishment against heinous criminals.
READ: First bill in Congress seeks reinstatement of death penalty
Alvarez’s bill sought to reimpose the death penalty for heinous crimes listed under Republic Act 7659, including murder, plunder, rape, kidnapping and serious illegal detention, sale, use and possession of illegal drugs, carnapping with homicide, among others.
In the bill he co-authored with deputy speaker Capiz Rep. Fredenil Castro, Alvarez said there is a need to reimpose the death penalty because “the national crime rate has grown to such alarming proportions requiring an all-out offensive against all forms of felonious acts.”
“Philippine society is left with no option but to deal with certain grievous offenders in a manner commensurate to the gravity, perversity, atrociousness and repugnance of their crimes,” according to the bill.
Duterte won the elections on a campaign promise to restore the death penalty by hanging, even making a snide remark that the convict’s head should be severed by hanging. Alvarez said Congress would look into the cheapest way for the death penalty, either by firing squad, lethal injection or by hanging.
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