Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman on Tuesday belied claims by a leader of the House of Representatives that there is enough support to pass the measure reimposing the death penalty.
"On percentage, I don't know where he got that percentages but we have reports from those who attended the caucus that those who were opposed and those undecided were more than those who said they were for the reimposition," said Lagman in a press briefing of the "Magnificent 7" minority bloc.
Lagman was referring to Majority Leader Rodolfo Farinñas' claim last week that 50 percent of the "supermajority" supported the measure, while only 15 percent opposed it and 35 percent were undecided.
House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, however, insisted that the supermajority would prevail, even as he expected the majority bloc to vote as a party on the death penalty reimposition bill.
"Dito sa Kongreso, tingin ko naman we can muster the majority," he said.
Alvarez appealed to the public to just wait for the plenary to vote on the matter, saying: "Ako nang bahala."
On Wednesday last week, Fariñas told reporters that half of the supermajority - made up of 267 of the 293 House legislators - has signified their support for the bill during a caucus on Wednesday.
Around 15 percent of the members is against the measure, while a bigger 35 percent remains undecided, the lawmaker claimed.
Despite this, Farinñas said the majority still decided to defer plenary voting on the measure, and instead undergo extensive plenary debates after the Christmas break.
Fariñas clarified that the deferment of the voting was not brought about by any "pressure" or opposition from the Church or other critics of the death penalty. Fariñas
On Monday, Akbayan Rep. Tom Villarin remained confident that the number of congressmen and congresswomen opposing the reimposition of the death penalty would grow by next year.
"Definitely, many congressmen are pushing for a conscience vote. The main consensus is dapat this is a conscience vote," said Villarin during the press briefing, adding that many lawmakers have yet to reveal their position on the issue.
"We are gaining ground. Even after Christmas, puwede mag-gather ang anti-death penalty supporters," he added.
Lagman also welcomed the position of former President and incumbent Pampang Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to continue opposing the reimposition of capital punishment despite belonging to the supermajority.
It was under Arroyo's term as president when the death penalty was abolished in 2006.
"We welcome the position of the former president that she is steadfast in the crusade against the death penalty... We are banking on [the fact] that all those under her party will also vote against the death penalty reimposition," said Lagman.
Arroyo belongs to the Lakas–CMD (Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats) party.
"On percentage, I don't know where he got that percentages but we have reports from those who attended the caucus that those who were opposed and those undecided were more than those who said they were for the reimposition," said Lagman in a press briefing of the "Magnificent 7" minority bloc.
Lagman was referring to Majority Leader Rodolfo Farinñas' claim last week that 50 percent of the "supermajority" supported the measure, while only 15 percent opposed it and 35 percent were undecided.
House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, however, insisted that the supermajority would prevail, even as he expected the majority bloc to vote as a party on the death penalty reimposition bill.
"Dito sa Kongreso, tingin ko naman we can muster the majority," he said.
Alvarez appealed to the public to just wait for the plenary to vote on the matter, saying: "Ako nang bahala."
On Wednesday last week, Fariñas told reporters that half of the supermajority - made up of 267 of the 293 House legislators - has signified their support for the bill during a caucus on Wednesday.
Around 15 percent of the members is against the measure, while a bigger 35 percent remains undecided, the lawmaker claimed.
Despite this, Farinñas said the majority still decided to defer plenary voting on the measure, and instead undergo extensive plenary debates after the Christmas break.
Fariñas clarified that the deferment of the voting was not brought about by any "pressure" or opposition from the Church or other critics of the death penalty. Fariñas
On Monday, Akbayan Rep. Tom Villarin remained confident that the number of congressmen and congresswomen opposing the reimposition of the death penalty would grow by next year.
"Definitely, many congressmen are pushing for a conscience vote. The main consensus is dapat this is a conscience vote," said Villarin during the press briefing, adding that many lawmakers have yet to reveal their position on the issue.
"We are gaining ground. Even after Christmas, puwede mag-gather ang anti-death penalty supporters," he added.
Lagman also welcomed the position of former President and incumbent Pampang Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to continue opposing the reimposition of capital punishment despite belonging to the supermajority.
It was under Arroyo's term as president when the death penalty was abolished in 2006.
"We welcome the position of the former president that she is steadfast in the crusade against the death penalty... We are banking on [the fact] that all those under her party will also vote against the death penalty reimposition," said Lagman.
Arroyo belongs to the Lakas–CMD (Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats) party.
Source: gmanetwork
Share this story!
Visit and follow our website: Duterte News Global
© Duterte News Global
Post a Comment