A bill seeking to impose the death penalty by firing squad on government officials convicted of corruption has been filed in the House of Representatives.
House Bill 11211, or the Death Penalty for Corruption Act, authored by Zamboanga Representative Khymer Olaso, aims to penalize all public officials—whether elected or appointed—found guilty of stealing public funds or engaging in corrupt practices.
The proposed measure covers officials in the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, as well as those in constitutional commissions, government-owned and controlled corporations, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Under the bill, officials proven guilty by the Sandiganbayan of the following offenses will face execution by firing squad:
- Graft under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act specifically acts causing harm to the government due to partiality.
- Malversation of public funds, involving the misuse of public funds for unauthorized purposes.
- Plunder is defined as amassing public funds amounting to at least ₱50 million.
However, the bill also includes safeguards to ensure due process. Execution by firing squad will only proceed if the following conditions are met:
- The conviction is upheld by the Supreme Court.
- The verdict has undergone mandatory review as required by the Constitution and other applicable laws.
- The accused has exhausted all legal remedies, including appeals and motions for reconsideration.
“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,” Olaso stated in the bill.