DEATH PENALTY FOR CERTAIN ELECTION OFFENSES

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by: Terence Mordeno Grana

AT LEAST three (3) legislators in the House of Representatives propose to declare certain election offenses as heinous crimes punishable by reclusion perpetua to death penalty.

Representatives (Reps.) Raul Gonzalez of Iloilo City, Rolando Briones of Pasay City and Gerry Salapuddin of Basilan filed House Bill Nos. (HB) 822, 1457 and 6763, respectively, which seek to provide stiffer penalties for certain election offenses and declaring these as heinous crimes.

In explaining the rationale of their measures, the congresmen noted that large scale vote-buying, use of threat, intimidation, terrorism, fraudulent materials and other forms of coercion, and use of deadly weapons resulting to death should be classified as heinous crimes.

The solons said that their bills would significantly serve as deterrent in the commission of election-related offenses and safeguard the mandate of the voting public. Rep. Salalpuddin added that the committee should also look into the long electoral and judicial process entailed in filing the complaint.

Tarlac Rep. Benigno Aquino III, on the other hand, explained that the degrees of guilt in the proposal should be clearly specified thus he consequently suggested that the committee will request the Commission of Elections (COMELEC) to give its stand on the measure, as well as provide data on the actual number of offenses that have been filed with the Commission as a result of the previous elections.

The House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms headed by Rep. Augusto Syjuco of Iloilo resolved in its meeting held last week to form a technical working group (TWG) to consolidate the three bills and have it be reported out for deliberation in plenary.

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