By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

After last night’s congressional vote which saw House Bill 4727 — which seeks to reimpose the death penalty — approved by a vote of 254 with 54 no and one abstention, both Negros Occidental Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and the Diocese of Bacolod remarked on pressure placed on lawmakers to vote in favor of the bill.
Lacson called the result a “foregone conclusion,” crediting House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, saying he threatened members of Congress.
The speaker previously declared his expectation for House leaders to vote in favor of the bill, adding those who vote against the measure will be replaced.
Meanwhile, Diocese of Bacolod social communications head and San Sebastian Cathedral rector, Rev. Fr. Felix Pasquin, said those who voted for the measure were “succumbing to partisanship, fear, or pressure.”
He heaped praise on those who voted against it, calling them “the brave ones” who “followed their conscience.”
Pasquin added, during this Lenten season, they are praying the setback will only strengthen their resolve to continue the church’s advocacy for life./WDJ