The divisive issue on the return of the death penalty is stoking emotions from both sides of the political aisle. The issue is a matter of life and death for criminal offenders committing murder, kidnapping for ransom and robbery with rape. Plunder of government coffers is also on the list of heinous crimes but because politicians always look after their own interests, it’s unlikely it will be included..
House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez tweaked the decibel higher when he threatened with expulsion congressmen who do not support the priority bill certified by President Rodrigo Duterte that will bring back the death penalty. The House is dominated by the so-called “super majority,” a coalition composed of turncoats and political opportunists who flock to the ruling party of whoever is elected president of the Republic. Depending on which side of the political fence he’s on, the voting result of this measure is going to be tectonic affecting every House committee chairmanship.
It’s this brazen display of naked political power that drew the ire of Buhay Party Rep. Lito Atienza.who has always been at the forefront in the fight against the return of capital punishment. Alvarez and his Malacañang masters may not realize it but they could be facing a revolt from the ranks of the legislators. A conscience vote may be too much to expect of our congressmen. But if the Senate rejects the measure, why then would the House still push the proposal? Elementary, my dear Watson. They stay in the good graces of Malacañang which holds the purse strings to the congressmen’s pet projects in their respective districts. No funds, no project—no reelection.
“Speaker Alvarez should just leave this controversial issue to the conscience vote of the individual House members,” said Atienza, adding “this is where the men are separated from the boys.” He also said that if Malacañang and its majority in the House are confident they have the numbers to pass the death penalty, then let the chips fall where they may. He condemned the threat of Speaker Alvarez to defrock congressmen as heads of key House committees if they don’t work for the President’s priority bill. Atienza said he hasn’t done a headcount yet of how many congressmen are supporting the death penalty restoration. He said that even if the House does the Palace bidding, the Senate will surely reject the measure. Although House Speaker Alvarez and Senate President Koko Pimentel are from the same ruling PDP-Laban political party, they are not on the same page on capital punishment.
One of those who could face ouster is former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. She is presently House Deputy Speaker but could be ousted if Alvarez musters the numbers in the House. The death penalty was abolished under Arroyo. Atienza also cited the legal opinion of Supreme Court Senior Justice Antonio Carpio who reminded the legislators that the Philippines is a signatory to the United Nations covenant against the death penalty. Carpio said the country’s constitutional law has to follow international laws the Philippines signed as UN member.
Atienza said he’s optimistic there will be enough conscience vote among House members not to restore death penalty. He said the death penalty which still exists in some US states has not deterred criminals. He suggested that meaningful reforms should instead be implemented in the justice and penal systems. More often than not, prison inmates have to share the same cell and quarters with hardened criminals. The result is that minor offenders, who, after serving their sentences, come out and go back to prison as recidivists.
To understand Lito’s visceral pro-life belief, one has to visit the halfway house for abandoned babies he and wife Beng have maintained for more than 10 years. Called the House of Angels, babies abandoned in public toilets and garbage heaps are sheltered by the Atienzas in a two-storey house in Manila’s San Andres district. There are at least six or eight children under the watch of a full time care-giver and two other volunteers. It is an under publicized social and humanitarian undertaking. I only came to know about it when I asked Lito where and how I can donate some used and even brand new children’s clothes. He then took me to the House of Angels where he showed me his wards and the little known Samaritan side of this politician. It was a joy to see how the kids liked the clothes I brought in two boxes.
The slightly used and brand new clothes were from my two granddaughters in New York.
Some of the abandoned babies have grown up to six years old . They are still in the shelter because no one is willing to adopt them. These are the unfortunate ones with physical defects like cleft lip and palate. The Atienzas, meanwhile, go on with their missionary zeal despite lack of government funding.
The adoption is done through the Department of Social Welfare and Development with the DSWD processing all the necessary paperwork and documentation.