MANILA, Philippines – A bill seeking to impose the death penalty by firing squad for public officials found guilty of corruption, embezzlement of public funds, and plunder has been introduced in the House of Representatives.
Authored by Zamboanga del Norte Representative Khymer Adan Olaso, House Bill (HB) 11211, also known as the proposed Death Penalty for Corruption Act, aims to address what Olaso referred to as "one of the gravest threats" to the nation's progress.
“Despite the existence of numerous laws aimed at combating graft, malversation, and plunder, the persistence of these crimes suggests that current measures are insufficient to deter public officials from engaging in corrupt practices,” Olaso said in the explanatory note of the bill released on Wednesday, according to a report by Philippine News Agency (PNA).
Olaso emphasized that the misuse of public funds erodes public trust and denies citizens access to vital services.
"The bill emphasizes accountability and deterrence, making it clear that public office is a public trust, and any violation of that trust must be met with the severest consequences," Olaso reiterated.
The proposed bill covers all government officials, from the president to the lowest barangay officer, as well as members of the military and police.
It specifically targets crimes such as graft and corruption under Republic Act (RA) 3019, also known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, malversation of public funds as defined in the Revised Penal Code, and plunder under the Plunder Law (RA 7080).
Olaso stated that the bill includes safeguards to uphold due process. Convictions must be affirmed by the Supreme Court, undergo automatic review, and allow the accused to exhaust all legal remedies before the death penalty is enforced.
The measure, according to Olaso, seeks to restore public trust in government institutions, deter potential offenders, and ensure justice for the Filipino people, who suffer the most from the devastating effects of corruption.
— Noel Ed Richards, The Summit Express
