House Committee on Justice Chairperson Reynaldo Umali says, the consolidated death penalty bill may be approved by the House of Representatives on third reading in May next year.
House leaders had initially wanted the measure to be passed on third and final reading by Christmas this year.
But they also acknowledge that the bill will pass through long debates in the plenary.
Last Wednesday, Umali’s committee voted 12-6 approving the measure that merges all other measures that seek to reimpose the capital punishment for over 20 heinous crimes.
In pushing for the passage of the bill, Umali said, “criminality will be worse than it is now. Let us try to institute change. One of these changes is to pass the death penalty bill.”
