Leaders of political blocs in the House of Representatives yesterday vowed to object to the Malacanang proposal to execute death convicts through hanging.
House Minority Leader Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante and 1Pacman party-list Rep. Michael L. Romero of the Partylist Coalition Foundation Inc. said cruel, inhuman, and degrading manners of punishment will be rejected by their groups.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo had earlier remarked that once the death penalty has been restored, the manner of executing convicts should be by hanging.
“I will support the reimposition of the death penalty but I’ll oppose any method that is cruel, inhuman, and degrading,” said Abante.
Abante, an evangelist, said he will back the reimposition of the capital punishment as sought by President Duterte.
“The minority might be divided in the issue of the death penalty but we are one and united to oppose all kinds cruelty, inhuman, and degrading ways of implementing it,” said Abante.
Romero said he has yet to make a decision on the restoration of the death penalty and the inclusion of plunder as among the crimes covered.
“I have been praying for God’s guidance on which path to take with regards to the proposal to restore the death penalty,” he said. Romero added: “Definitely, cruel and inhuman manner of carrying out the death sentence will be fiercely objected to.”
Under existing laws, torture and other cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment convicts are prohibited.
The Philippines used to execute death convicts through the electric chair. This method has been prohibited after it was considered to be cruel and inhuman.
The lethal injection took the place of electric chair before a law banning the death sentence was passed in Congress. (Ben Rosario)
