Death by firing squad for corrupt gov鈥檛 officials pushed
The House of Representatives (Gabriel Pabico Lalu/黑料社)
MANILA, Philippines — A bill pushing for the imposition of the death penalty by firing squad for government officials convicted of corruption and other grave cases was filed before the House of Representatives.
Under House Bill No. 11211, or the proposed Death Penalty for Corruption Act, filed by Zamboanga City 1st District Rep. Khymer Adan Olaso, conviction for the following cases will merit the death penalty:
- graft and corruption as defined under Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act
- malversation of public funds as defined under the Revised Penal Code.
- plunder as defined under R.A. No. 7080
According to Olaso, he came up with the idea that corruption remains “one of the gravest threats” to the Philippines’ growth.
“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 wrote in the bill’s explanatory note.
“This proposed bill seeks to impose the ultimate penalty of death by firing squad on public officials — from the President to the lowest barangay official — convicted by the Sandiganbayan of graft and corruption, malversation of public funds, and plunder. 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,” he added.
Article continues after this advertisementUnder the bill, all public officials — whether elected or appointed, including members of the military and police forces—will be sentenced to the death penalty if the Sandiganbayan convicts them.
Article continues after this advertisementTo ensure due process, the death penalty would only be carried out if the following circumstances were met:
- the Supreme Court affirms the conviction
- the conviction has undergone the mandatory automatic review process as required by the Constitution and other applicable laws
- the accused has exhausted all legal remedies available under Philippine law, including appeals and motions for reconsideration
“These safeguards aim to uphold the fundamental rights of the accused while ensuring that the imposition of the death penalty is applied only in cases where guilt is conclusively established,” the bill reads.
Olaso filed the bill last December 16, 2024, and was referred to the House committee on justice last December 18.
Currently, the death penalty, or capital punishment, is not being implemented in the country, as it is disallowed by the 1987 Constitution unless for compelling reasons like heinous crimes.
But a few years after crafting the constitution, a strong push for the death penalty’s restoration due to increasing crime rates led to its re-establishment during the administration of former President Fidel Ramos.
It was implemented by Ramos’ successor, former President Joseph Estrada. However, it was repealed after former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed Republic Act No. 9346 or an Act Prohibiting the Imposition of Death Penalty in the Philippines.
READ: What Went Before: Death Penalty Law
This is not the first time that a lawmaker pushed for the death penalty for government officials convicted of corruption-related cases.
Last October 2024, Cibac party-list Rep. Eddie Villanueva said he would push for a law imposing the death penalty on corrupt government officials who stole over P100 million.
READ:
Senator Ronald dela Rosa also filed a bill reinstating the death penalty, but only for high-level drug trafficking, fearing that including corruption as among the crimes punishable by death would not get support.
READ: Death penalty for corrupt? Bato Dela Rosa says corrupt solons will not vote for it
