Alvarez: More than half of House to vote for death penalty

MANILA, Philippines — There are enough votes for the House of Representatives to pass a bill reimposing the death penalty, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said in a TV interview on Monday.

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In an interview with CNN's "The Source", Alvarez said that the number of lawmakers who will vote to approve House Bill 4727, or the reimposition of the death penalty, has exceeded a simple majority—50 percent of 292 members plus one.

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"May bilang po tayo," he said. "Bilang panalo, siyempre!"

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Alvarez said that voting on the measure will happen on either Tuesday or Wednesday.

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Speaker Alvarez also reiterated that House leaders and committee chairpersons who vote against the measure will have to be replaced.?

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"Nailatag na po natin yung policy, we have to implement it," Alvarez said.

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On February 8, Alvarez warned deputy speakers, committee chairs and vice chairs that they will be replaced for opposing the administration-backed measure.

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"'Pag deputy speaker ka,?pangit naman na hindi ka sang-ayon doon sa administration-sponsored bill, at saka 'pag chairman ka nung committees," Alvarez said.

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READ: Alvarez: Admin lawmakers against death penalty free to leave

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Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, an ally of President Rodrigo Duterte and currently a deputy speaker, may also be in danger of being replaced after she earlier said that she would abstain from voting.

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RELATED: ‘Anti-death penalty lawmakers can leave coalition’

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In December 2016, she said that she is against the death penalty. However, she also said that she had talked with the president about it and that "it's alright for him" the she is against the passage of the bill.

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In 2006, then President Arroyo abolished the death penalty.