Zamboanga City Representative Khymer Adan Olaso has authored and filed a bill seeking to impose the death penalty by firing squad for corrupt government officials.
The Death Penalty for Corruption Bill, filed in December 2024 and released on January 22, proposes that public officials convicted by the Sandiganbayan of graft and corruption, malversation of public funds, or plunder be sentenced to death by firing squad. The legislation would apply to all public officials — from the president to the lowest barangay officer; it would also include officials from constitutional commissions, government-owned and controlled corporations, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the Philippine National Police.
In the explanatory note, Olaso said that existing measures are “insufficient to deter public officials from engaging in corrupt practices.” The note continues: “The misuse of public funds and betrayal of public trust not only undermine the government’s legitimacy but also deprive millions of Filipinos of essential services, infrastructure, and opportunities for growth.”
Olaso also said: “While the death penalty was previously abolished under Republic Act No. 9346, the gravity of corruption as a crime against society justifies its reintroduction for specific heinous offenses. This measure is aimed at restoring public trust in government institutions, deterring potential offenders, and ensuring that justice is served for the Filipino people, who bear the brunt of corruption’s devastating impact.”
Provisions of the bill include safeguards to ensure due process. It proposes that convictions are affirmed by the Supreme Court and undergo an automatic review process and that the convicted should have exhausted all legal remedies available under Philippine law, including appeals and motions for reconsideration before they are given the death penalty.
A Public Execution… in Luneta?
“This bill is not merely punitive but also symbolic of the Philippines’ zero-tolerance policy for corruption,” Olaso wrote in the explanatory note. “By passing this legislation, Congress sends a strong message that integrity and accountability are paramount in public service and that the misuse of public resources will not be tolerated.”
In an interview with the media, Olaso further explained that despite identifying as Roman Catholic, he believes the proposed legislation to be necessary. “Kailangan e, para tumino ‘yong bansa natin. Kung hindi, kawawa po tayo.”
He added that corrupt officials should be publicly executed. “Kung ako lang ang masusunod ‘dun, ipa-firing squad ka sa Luneta para makita ng taong bayan kung sino ‘yong gumagawa ng kalokohan.”
Under the 1987 Constitution, the Philippines became the first country in Asia to abolish capital punishment, though the constitution allows Congress to enforce it for “heinous crimes.” The death penalty was reinstated in 1993 under former President Fidel V. Ramos. In 2006, the death penalty was once again abolished, this time under former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
Reservations and Disagreements
ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro expressed her reservations regarding the bill, saying that the justice system should be “fixed” first, as only employees and “fall guys” may be punished.
“Impeachment nga na aalisin lang sa pwesto ay hinaharang pa pano pa kaya kung death penalty pa,” she said.
Castro is one of the House representatives who endorsed the second impeachment complaint filed against Vice President Sara Duterte, who currently faces three impeachment complaints for the Office of the Vice President’s misuse of confidential funds.
House Deputy Majority Leader and La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega said that the bill is “medieval” and that it may not deter corruption. “It will instill fear, pero it will not ensure na wala pa ring corruption,” he said.
With Congress adjourning on February 8 to make way for the election period, Ortega also said that the legislature may not have time to tackle the bill anymore.
