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By Sammy Martin, Reporter
THE numbers game could derail a human-rights
bill deemed important by its author.
Nueva Ecija Rep. Eduardo Nonato Joson, chief
proponent of House Bill 556, or the Extra-Judicial Killing Act of
2008, over the weekend expressed fears that the measure might be
shelved due to “lack of quorum.”
Other bills that had been calendared are still
in the freezer. Among them are those that seek amendments to the
Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 and to the PNP Reform and
Reorganization Act; Tax Relief for Individual Taxpayers; Personal
Equity and Retirement Account; extension of the Comprehensive
Agrarian Reform Program, and Archipelagic Baseline Bill.
“I’m crossing my fingers that (House Bill
556) won’t suffer the same fate (that the frozens measures did)
since the bill is very important for our people’s safety,” Joson
said in a statement.
Rep. Pedro Romualdo of Camiguin said he is so
frustrated with members of the 14th Congress that he is recommending
padlocking the session hall so that they can muster a quorum and
pass important bills of national interests.
House Speaker Prospero Nograles had suggested
that the roll be called twice to ensure a quorum.
Joson’s bill was approved at the committee
level last Wednesday, with all members agreeing to raise the penalty
of offenders.
Under the proposal, members of the police and
the military found guilty of the crime of extra-judicial killing
will be slapped with reclusion perpetua (life imprisonment) from
reclusion correctional (40 years). Other violators will serve prison
mayor (10 years to 12 years).
The human-rights measure is expected to
stop involuntary disappearances of ordinary Filipinoscritical of the
government.
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