A NEGRENSE lawmaker who voted against the death penalty bill resigned from the majority bloc in the House of Representatives.
On Monday, a day before the members of the House approved on third and final reading the reimposition of death penalty, Abang-Lingkod party-list Representative Stephen Paduano quit the majority bloc and relinquished all the positions given to him as privilege of being a member of the majority.
He said those who voted “No” and have leadership positions will also be stripped of their functions as announced earlier by House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.
However, Paduano remained confident that his resignation from the majority bloc will not affect his relationship with his colleagues in the Visayan Bloc, whose leader Third District Representative Alfredo Benitez of Negros Occidental voted in favor of the bill.
“Our leadership in the Visayan Bloc under the stewardship of Congressman Benitez respects the position of every member,” he said.
On Wednesday, a total of 217 lawmakers supported the passing of House Bill 4727, which seeks to revive capital punishment for drug-related crimes. There were 54 who opposed. One abstained.
In Negros Island Region (NIR), eight of the 12 congressmen voted in favor of the death penalty bill.
Aside from Benitez, those who voted “Yes” were Representatives Greg Gasataya (Bacolod City), Melecio Yap Jr. (First District, Negros Occidental), Leo Rafael Cueva (Second District, Negros Occidental), Alejandro Mirasol (Fifth District, Negros Occidental), Mercedes Alvarez (Sixth District, Negros Occidental), Manuel Sagarbarria (Second District, Negros Oriental) and Arnulfo Teves Jr. (Third District, Negros Oriental).
Also against the measure were Representatives Juliet Ferrer (Fourth District, Negros Occidental), Jocelyn Limkaichong (First District, Negros Oriental), and Gary Alejano (Magdalo party-list).
The latest version of the bill seeks to punish seven major drug-related offenses.
The bill said the penalty of life imprisonment to death and a fine ranging from P500,000 to P10 million shall be imposed upon any person involved in any of the following acts:
Importation of dangerous drugs and/or controlled precursors and essential chemicals; sale, trading, administration, dispensation, delivery, distribution and transportation of dangerous drugs and/or controlled precursor and essential chemicals; maintenance of a den, dive or resort where any dangerous drug is used or sold in any form; manufacture of dangerous drugs and/or controlled precursors and essential chemical;
Qualifying aggravating circumstances in the commission of a crime by an offender under the influence of dangerous drugs; Criminal liability of a public officer or employee for misappropriation, misapplication or failure to account for the confiscated, seized and/or surrendered dangerous drugs; and criminal liability for planting evidence.
Capital punishment was suspended in 2006 by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
President Rodrigo Duterte, however, has called for the passage of the measure to stop the proliferation of drugs and criminality. (With reports from SunStar Philippines)