New Bill Seeks Death Penalty for Government Corruption by Firing Squad
FIRING SQUAD – A bill has been filed that aims to impose the death penalty by firing squad on government officials convicted of corruption and related crimes.
House Bill No. 11211, introduced by Zamboanga City Representative Khymer Adan Olaso, seeks to address corruption, which continues to be a major obstacle to the Philippines’ growth. Olaso believes that despite the existence of many laws against corruption, they are not sufficient to prevent these crimes.
The bill targets government officials, from the President to the lowest local officials, who are convicted of crimes such as graft and corruption, misusing public funds, and stealing large sums of money. It emphasizes the importance of accountability, stating that breaching the public’s trust should result in the harshest punishment. The death penalty would apply to officials convicted by the Sandiganbayan, the court that handles corruption cases.
The bill also ensures fairness before the death penalty is carried out. The death sentence would only be enforced if the Supreme Court confirms the conviction and the case undergoes the required review process. Additionally, the convicted individual must have exhausted all legal options available to them, such as appeals and reconsiderations.
This bill is part of a broader effort to combat corruption in the Philippines. In December 2024, Olaso introduced the bill to the House of Representatives, where it was referred to the committee on justice. It follows similar initiatives by other lawmakers, including Cibac party-list Representative Eddie Villanueva, who proposed a law to apply the death penalty to officials who steal more than P100 million, and Senator Ronald dela Rosa, who filed a bill to reinstate the death penalty for high-level drug trafficking. However, dela Rosa did not include corruption in his bill, fearing it might not gain enough support.
