A bill seeking the death penalty by firing squad for public officials convicted of corruption-related offenses has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Zamboanga Rep. Khymer Olaso.

House Bill 11211, known as the Death Penalty for Corruption Act, targets public officials across the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, government-owned corporations, as well as members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police.

“All public officials, whether elected or appointed, including members of the military and police forces, who are convicted by the Sandiganbayan of the crimes specified in Section 3 of this Act shall be sentenced to death by firing squad,” the bill reads.

The bill applies to those convicted of graft, malversation of public funds, and plunder (over P50 million in stolen funds) by the Sandiganbayan.

However, the death sentence will only apply if the conviction is upheld by the Supreme Court, undergoes the mandatory automatic review, and after all legal remedies, including appeals and motions for reconsideration, have been exhausted.

The bill also specifies that no public official or member of the military or police can be executed unless their conviction has been affirmed by the Supreme Court, the automatic review process has been completed, and all legal remedies have been exhausted.

“These safeguards aim to uphold the fundamental rights of the accused while ensuring that the imposition of the death penalty is applied only in cases where guilt is conclusively established,” the bill states.