Tinuligsa ng mga miyembro ng tinatawag na self-styled “true” Minority bloc sa House of Representatives (HOR) ang anila’y maliwanag na pag-aapura sa panukalang naglalayong maibalik ang death penalty sa Pilipinas.
Pinuna nina Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman at Akbayan Party-list Rep. Tom Villarin – mga miyemro ng “Magnificent Seven” – sa isang press conference kahapon ang tinawag nilang “irregularities” na kanilang napansin sa proceedings ng House Justice Subcommittee.
Pinagbotohan din kahapon ng sub-panel ang pag-apruba sa isang substitute measure na sumasalamin sa House Bill (HB) No. 1 na layuning maibalik ang parusang kamatayan sa matitinding krimen.
“A bill on the reimposition of death penalty has been railroaded,” ani Lagman, dating House Minority Leader.
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“Members of the Committee who was supposed to be there to present their views were not given adequate notice.... The subcommittee terminated the invitation to resource persons who were supposed to present their testimonies on why they are for or against the reimposition of the death penalty,” dagdag pa niya.
Sinabi rin ni Lagman na walang Committee report na inilabas bago isinagawa ang botohan kahapon.
“After all of the presentations and position papers made by the resource persons, I think it was incumbent on the subcommittee to synthesize the reports, (and) take a position in fairness to those who gave their views.
“But this was not done. There was no Committee report before the approval and adoption of a substitute bill,” aniya.
(Ellson A. Quismorio)
