The third reading of the death penalty bill is more than a mere formality.

As Representatives personally cast their votes on nominal voting, it would be a day of revelation for Members of the House on either side as well as for Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.

The roll call vote or nominal voting will reveal the identities of those with courage and will to defy the House leadership’s agenda for the final passage of the bill and those who may have succumbed to intimidation and pressures from House leaders.

For Speaker Alvarez, it would be the time for him to make good his threat to strip defying Members of their committee chairmanships and deputy speaker positions.

Speaker Alvarez has no alternative but to consummate his planned reprisal, otherwise no one will believe him when he wields again the Sword of Damocles in the plenary consideration of other administration measures.

EDCEL C. LAGMAN