Leni Robredo alarmed over alleged railroading of death bill in House

Vice President Leni Robredo on Wednesday decried what she called the “railroading” of the death penalty bill at the House of Representatives, after it secured a resounding approval on final reading.

Speaking at the Women Defend Democracy forum at Miriam College, Robredo, who served one term as Camarines Sur representative, said the House bypassed the “democratic process” required in legislation.

EARLIER: VP Robredo says House bypassed 'democratic process' in 'railroading' passage of death penalty bill. pic.twitter.com/PxDjZkBVaa

— Aica Dioquino (@AicaDioquino) March 8, 2017

“Marami pang ibang dahilan [kung bakit hindi ako sang-ayon dito], but I think the more important thing—especially with regards to what happened yesterday and the days prior to that na nangyari sa House of Representatives—was the way that the bill was passed,” Robredo said.

“Tingin natin ang death penalty napakahalagang piece of legislation na sana pinag-usapan nang mabuti. Napakaraming batas—some of them ako ‘yung author sa 16th Congress: Freedom of Information, Comprehensive Land Use Bill, etc.—hindi maipasa ng Kongreso dahil mahaba ang usapin. Alam natin na mahahalagang legislation iyon, pero iyong death penalty, pagkitil siya ng buhay ng tao, minadali,” she added.

“Kung titingnan natin… when it was discussed on the committee, ni-railroad. Nu’ng nasa plenary na siya, napakahaba pa [ng listahan] nu’ng gustong mag-interpellate sa mga authors, ni-railroad. Dahil merong majority,” Robredo said.

Robredo’s comments came a day after the House approved House Bill 4727, which seeks to reimpose capital punishment on seven drug-related offenses.

A total of 217 lawmakers voted in favor of the measure’s approval, while 54 went against it, and one abstained.

The Vice President has been vocal in her opposition on the measure, apparently one of the “irreconcilable differences” she had with President Rodrigo Duterte.

This difference in view led to her exclusion, then resignation, from his Cabinet.

Earlier, she said the House’s haste to approve the measure, even at the committee level, seemed to have been done only to accommodate Duterte’s wishes.

She has also urged the public to speak out against the measure, and other policies of the administration that may put public interest at risk. —NB, GMA News