Senate minority to be active in death penalty debate

MANILA, Philippines — The new Senate minority will play an active role in the debates on the proposed revival of the death penalty, Sen. Benigno "Bam" Aquino IV said on Wednesday.

"We will make sure that counter perspectives are given a space in the Senate," Aquino said in a statement.

Aquino was among the senators who moved to the minority earlier this week after a motion to replace them as heads of committees.

Countering arguments that the policy is "pro-poor," Aquino said it is the poor who are usually at a disadvantage when they are accused of crimes.

READ: House panel approves death penalty bill | House defers death penalty bill approval

"This move will also affect some of the treaties, conventions and agreements we've already signed up to," Aquino said.

The Philippines signed the Treaty of International Convention on Civil and Political Rights in 1986 which prevents carrying out punishments by execution.

"Napakabigat ng isyung ito. Hindi dapat madaliin ang debate, lalo na't makikinig ang publiko sa mga argumento sa Senado," Aquino said.

Sen. Francis Pangilinan, president of the Liberal Party, said in his interview on CNN Philippines' "The Source" that the party's position being against the death penalty still stands.

He added, however, that there are party members who are in favor of it for specific reasons.

"We decided that yes, this is the party position but being liberal democrats, we will have to give some of our members the option to undertake a conscious vote," Pangilinan said.

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, meanwhile, has said that the number of lawmakers to vote for the approval of the death penalty exceeded a simple majority, which is 50 percent of 292 members plus one.

The voting for the reimposition of the death penalty is slated on Wednesday, earlier than the initial date set on March 8.