House majority strips anti-death penalty members of key posts

MANILA, Philippines (Updated 6:15 p.m.) — The leadership of the House of Representatives on Wednesday night removed members who voted against the death penalty bill early this month from key positions.

Reshuffle not expected until May

Speaking to reporters at the House of Representatives, Alvarez said the House majority would not forget the policy announced before voting on House Bill 4727 or the death penalty bill.

“Ay, hindi makakalimutan dahil we have asked the respective parties to submit their nominees for the replacements,” he said.

Alvarez also declared that he was willing to “burn bridges” with his decision.

“Well if I’m burning bridges then so be it wala tayo magagawa diyan,” he said.

That time, Alvarez said that representatives occupying committee chairmanship and deputy speakership positions who would vote against the death penalty measure would lose their key positions.

“Tuloy na tuloy 'yun. 'Yun ang naging policy natin kaya kailangan nating gawin 'yun," Alvarez said in a radio interview when asked if they would follow through on the warning.

With 217 voting in favor and 54 against, the House passed the bill on third reading on March 7.

A day after the vote, Alvarez reissued his warning, but this time he dialed back a bit, saying that the changes in the composition of the House leadership would happen some other time and that he was leaving it to Fariñas how to effect the reshuffle, a move that was criticized and scored by some members in the minority.

Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, who is not in the majority and who voted against the measure, described the threat of Alvarez as “mere scheming braggadocio.”

Lagman said: “The threat of Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez to oust those who would vote against the death penalty bill from their key leadership positions has turned out to be a mere scheming braggadocio.”

Alvarez said that the House leadership would consider whom each party would nominate as replacements.

“Kung ano yung ino-nominate nila kung sino yun of course we will consider,” he said.

He also added even those who were absent would be removed from their posts, unless they had a valid reason.