House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on Wednesday kicked out deputy speakers who are opposed to the death penalty bill, including former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. “I am not forcing the members of the House leadership [to vote in favor of death penalty bill]. On Wednesday, lawmakers amended the death penalty bill by providing life sentence as an option to punish those convicted of heinous crime. In 25 minutes, a quorum was reached and the sponsorship on the death penalty bill proceeded. The death penalty bill covers heinous crimes and drug-related offenses, and deems the possession of at least 10 grams of illegal drugs as drug trafficking punishable by death.

Source: Manila Times February 08, 2017 16:07 UTC