Senator Bam Aquino. PHOTO FROM AQUINO’S MEDIA OFFICE
There should be “no railroading, no secret votes” in the Senate on the controversial death penalty bill, Deputy Minority Leader Bam Aquino said on Thursday.
“We will not allow it to be rushed. We must ensure that proper debate on the matter be conducted,” Aquino said in a statement after the House of Representatives approved the bill on second reading Wednesday night.
READ: Senate minority will be at forefront of death penalty debates—Bam
The House is eyeing the passage of the measure on third and final reading next week.
Aquino said the Senate must not only allow the proper legislative process to run its course but its members must also reveal their votes “to ensure accountability and transparency.”
“We will not allow votes to be anonymous or hidden and we will ensure accountability among our colleagues,” he said.
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“Bilang mga kinatawan ng mamamayan, dapat panindigan ng bawat senador ang kanilang magiging boto at kung kailangan ipaliwanag ang kanilang posisyon sa taumbayan,” the senator added.
(As the people’s representatives, each senator must stand by his or her vote, and must explain his or her reasons to the people.)
Aquino and the five other members of the Senate minority bloc are against the bill. The five are Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, Senators Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Risa Hontiveros, and Antonio Trillanes IV, and detained Senator Leila de Lima.
Four members of the majority bloc are also against the measure and they are Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, Senators Richard Gordon, Francis Escudero, and Grace Poe. IDL/rga
READ: 10 out of 24 senators pro-death penalty–Gordon