Overshadowed by the controversial bills competing for passage before the congressional Christmas break, was the unanimous approval on third reading by the House of Representatives of a measure proposing to punish with severity election offenses attended by violence, coercion, intimidation, force or threats.

House Bill No. 1882 principally authored by Rep. Edcel C. Lagman seeks to stamp out the use of violence during elections by imposing grave penalties on offenders up to a maximum imprisonment of 20 years or the equivalent of prision temporal under the Revised Penal Code.

“The employment of violence is the most brutal and unfortunately effective means of thwarting the will of the electorate, eliminating poll rivals and silencing witnesses,” Lagman said.

Lagman added that “the use of violence or terrorism does not only tamper with election results, it decimates the essence and spirit of the electoral process.”

Under the bill, any person found guilty of an election offense or prohibited act under the Omnibus Election Code where the commission is attended by violence, coercion, intimidation, force or threats shall be punished by imprisonment of not less than 12 years and one day to 20 years.

Moreover, the guilty party shall be perpetually disqualified from holding public office and deprived of the right to vote.

The Lagman bill also provides for the separate and concurrent prosecution of a person accused of an election offense or prohibited act under the Omnibus Election Code whose act or acts likewise constitute a felony under the Revised Penal Code.

HB No. 1882 was consolidated with House Bill Nos. 2514 and 2769 filed by Rep. Rufus Rodriguez which seeks to increase the penalties of all other election offenses under the Omnibus Election Code from the present one to six years to six years and one day to 12 years which is equivalent to prision mayor under the Revised Penal Code.

Under the consolidated bill, the political party, political coalition, party-list or aggrupation organized for political purpose to which the guilty party is a member shall be fined not less than P500,000 instead of the present P10,000.