LP on House revamp: ‘Nasa demokrasya tayo, hindi diktadura’

While it was "not surprised" with the ouster of anti-death penalty solons from key posts, the Liberal Party (LP) on Thursday said the House leadership displayed a "disturbing indicator of a dangerous side toward authoritarianism." 

In a statement forwarded to the media by LP president and Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan, the former ruling party reminded the government that "in a democracy, dissent must be met with thoughtful reasoning, not political retribution." 

"Nasa demokrasya tayo at hindi diktadura. Hindi dahil tumututol sa ilang mga isyu na tinutulak ng administrasyon ay ibig sabihin ay kaaway na o dapat nang pinaparusahan o tinatanggalan ng komite ang mga halal na opisyal," the LP statement said. 

"The Speaker’s action is divisive and detrimental to the character of Congress as an independent and deliberative institution," it added, referring to House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.

The LP said it tried to give its multi-partisan support to the Duterte administration but "uniting behind it appears to have become more and more untenable" because of the government's failure to address the recent extrajudicial killings. 

The party, however, still assured that it will continue to work on important pieces of legisltation. 

On Wednesday, several lawmakers who voted against the reimposition of death penalty, including Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, were removed from their top posts. 

The LP currently has 32 House members, 27 of whom are allied with the House supermajority.

Some LP members voted in favor of the death penalty, with Sen. Pangilinan earlier saying that congressmen were allowed to make a conscience vote. 

In the Senate, Pangilinan said the LP members are united to vote against the death penalty, which is still pending before the justice committee. — RSJ, GMA News