Bill that seeks death by firing squad for corrupt officials filed.
DEATH BY FIRING SQUAD? House Bill 11211 or the Death Penalty for Corruption Act filed in the House of Representatives.
There is no denying that one of the biggest reasons why the Philippines remained in its poor state is because of corruption. This is one of the biggest problems and one of the worst rampant issues in the country. Of 180 countries, one of the most corrupt countries in the world is the Philippines.
In a 2007 study by political scientist and professor emeritus at Colgate University in the United States Michael Johnston, there are four categories of corruption in Asia wherein Japan, Korea, China, and the Philippines are the prime examples of each category.
- Influence Market Corruption
- Elite Cartel Corruption
- Official Mogul Corruption
- Oligarch-and-Clan Corruption
Recently, Zamboanga Rep. Khymer Olaso proposed death by firing squad for public officials convicted of corruption-related criminal charges under House Bill 11211 or the Death Penalty for Corruption Act.
This bill covers all elected or appointed public officials such as the ones in the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, serving in constitutional commissions, government-owned and controlled corporations, and other instrumentalities, members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Those who are convicted before the Sandiganbayan of the following charges are to face the penalty:
- Graft under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (causing injury to the government due to partiality)
- Malversation of public funds (use of public funds for purposes not provided for it) and
- Plunder (amassing at least P50 million worth of public funds)
The penalty will be carried out if:
- Supreme Court affirmed their conviction
- the conviction underwent a mandatory automatic review process as required by the Constitution and other applicable laws
- all legal remedies available under Philippine law have been exhausted which included appeals and motions for reconsideration
The proposed bill furthered: “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.”
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