A bill imposing the death penalty by firing squad for public officials convicted of corruption-related criminal charges with finality has been filed in the House of Representatives.
This was proposed by Zamboanga Rep. Khymer Olaso under House Bill 11211 or the Death Penalty for Corruption Act.
The bill covers all public officials, whether elected or appointed, including officials in the executive, legislative, judicial branches, those serving in constitutional commissions, government-owned and controlled corporations, and other instrumentalities, members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
The said death penalty by firing squad will cover those public officials convicted of the following charges before the Sandiganbayan:
- Graft under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (causing injury to the government due to partiality)
- Malversation of public funds (use of public funds for purposes not provided for it) and
- Plunder (amassing at least P50 million worth of public funds)
The bill, however, provides that no public official, appointed or elected, or any member of the military or police, shall be executed by firing squad unless:
- Their conviction has been affirmed by the Supreme Court
- The conviction underwent mandatory automatic review process as required by the Constitution and other applicable laws; and
- The accused has exhausted all legal remedies available under Philippine law, including appeals and motions for reconsideration.
“These safeguards aim to uphold the fundamental rights of the accused while ensuring that the imposition of the death penalty is applied only in cases where guilt is conclusively established,” Olaso said in his proposed bill.
Plunder
In a separate interview, Surigao del Norte Rep. Ace Barbers said he agrees with the death penalty only for plunderers and those guilty of heinous crimes, including drug related crimes.
“I have a bill imposing the death penalty for heinous crimes, including drug-related crimes, but in the course of the deliberations, we can consider plunder. There’s a strong sentiment among the people to restore the death penalty,” Barbers said.
“Plunder is the most logical crime to be included in the imposition of the penalty of death because there is a clear benefit involving the actors [in the crime]. This measure is serious step to really send a signal that corruption should not be taken lightly and corruption should not be tolerated,” added Barbers, chairperson of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs.
Barbers, however, said he does not necessarily favor a certain way of imposing the death penalty.
“I don’t really mind in whatever mode they want to implement the penalty just as long as we reimpose the death penalty for heinous crimes and plunder. On firing squad [mode], well, if that is going to be the accepted mode of the majority of the members of Congress, both in the House and in the Senate, then so be it,” Barbers added.
Asked if a firing squad mode is inhumane, Barbers said, “we have to follow the decision of the majority.”
Congress has around four weeks before adjourning session on June 13 due to the campaign period and May 2025 polls.
