MANILA, Philippines — A congressman from Mindanao has filed House Bill (HB) 1211, or the proposed Death Penalty for Corruption Act, which seeks to revive capital punishment, specifically proposing that government officials convicted of graft and corruption, malversation of public funds and plunder face the firing squad.
HB 1211 seeks to impose death by firing squad for public officials, from the president to the lowest barangay official, who are convicted by the Sandiganbayan of graft and corruption, malversation of public funds and plunder.
In filing the bill, principal author Zamboanga 1st district Rep. Khymer Adan Olaso wants to amend and repeal Republic Act 9346 or the “Act Prohibiting the Imposition of the Death Penalty in the Philippines,” and RA 7659 or the “Death Penalty Law,” citing corruption as one of the gravest threats to the country’s social, economic and political development.
“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 said in the bill’s explanatory note.
“The misuse of public funds and betrayal of public trust not only undermine the government’s legitimacy but also deprive millions of Filipinos of essential services, infrastructure and opportunities for growth,” he added.
Olaso said the bill emphasizes accountability and deterrence, making it clear that public office is a public trust and that any violation of this trust must be met with the severest consequences.
“The imposition of the death penalty for these crimes is grounded in the principle of retributive justice, recognizing the magnitude of harm inflicted by corrupt practices. It also aligns with the constitutional mandate under Article XI of the 1987 Constitution, which underscores accountability among public officers and declares that public office is a public trust,” he explained.
While the death penalty was abolished under RA 9346 in 2006, the gravity of corruption as a crime against society justifies its reintroduction for specific heinous offenses, Olaso added.
“This bill is not merely punitive but also symbolic of the Philippines’ zero-tolerance policy for corruption. By passing this legislation, Congress sends a strong message that integrity and accountability are paramount in public service and that the misuse of public resources will not be tolerated,” the Mindanao lawmaker said.
As a safeguard for the imposition of the death penalty by firing squad, Olaso said that no public official, whether appointed or elected, nor any member of the military or police, shall be executed unless “the conviction has been affirmed by the Supreme Court; the conviction has undergone the mandatory automatic review process as required by the Constitution and other applicable laws and the accused has exhausted all legal remedies available under Philippine law, including appeals and motions for reconsideration.”