LP expresses victory over exclusion of death penalty in Congress priority list

The once ruling Liberal Party (LP) on Friday said Congress’ decision not to include the death penalty bill from the list of priority measures “is a small but substantial victory.”

“The discussions do not end here, but this delay provides more time for our lawmakers and fellow Filipinos to delve further into the issues surrounding capital punishment and the risks it poses should it ever pass into law,” the LP said in a statement.

“We believe in a Philippines that offers justice without killing. Ours is a country of life and vitality. Let us always remember it,” it added.

The bill restoring the imposition of death penalty was passed on third reading at the House of Representatives. It is also one of the measures pushed by President Rodrigo Duterte during his second state of the nation address last Monday.

However, this was not included in the priority list of Congress’ common legislative agenda.

The Congress, instead, intend to prioritize bills on tax reforms, traffic emergency powers and the end of “endo,” or contractualization, before the end of 2017, as well as to revise the 1987 Constitution and approve the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL). JPV