Rep. Edcel C. Lagman called on Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and the leadership of the House supermajority to allow a conscience vote on the proposed reimposition of the death penalty.

Lagman said that Speaker Alvarez must liberate members of the majority coalition to advocate differing views and assure free debate on the revival of capital punishment.

Lagman’s call is on the wake of the approval by the Sub-Committee on Judicial Reforms of the Committee on Justice of the substitute bill adhering to the proposal of H.B. No. 001 imposing the death penalty on at least 21 crimes considered “heinous”.

The precipitate approval, which was assured by the preponderant presence of ex-officio members who outnumbered the regular members, was vitiated by non-compliance with the prior 3-calendar day notice rule to the members informing them of the scheduled meeting, abrupt termination of the testimonies of resource persons and absence of a requisite committee report, Lagman added.

The death penalty is proposed to be imposed on the following crimes:

Treason; qualified piracy; qualified bribery; parricide; murder; infanticide; rape; kidnapping and serious illegal detention; robbery with violence against or intimidation of persons; destructive arson; plunder; carnapping;

Drug-related crimes like the 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 precursors and essential chemicals; maintenance of a drug den, dive or resort; manufacture of dangerous drugs and/or controlled precursors and essential chemicals;

Possession of dangerous drugs; cultivation or culture of plants classified as dangerous drugs or are sources thereof; unlawful prescription of dangerous drugs; misappropriation, misapplication or failure to account for confiscated, seized and/or surrendered dangerous drugs, plant sources of dangerous drugs, controlled precursors and essential chemicals, instruments/paraphernalia and/or laboratory equipment including the proceeds or properties obtained from the unlawful act committed; and planting of evidence.

Lagman also said that the proponents of the consolidated substitute bill failed to comply with the constitutional requirement of showing compelling reasons for the reimposition of the death penalty.

EDCEL C. LAGMAN