THE PHILIPPINES. DEATH PENALTY FOR POLL CHEATERS SOUGHT

Senator Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada had filed a bill seeking to amend the Omnibus Election Code (OEC) whereby capital punishment would be imposed on candidates found to have engaged in election fraud.
Estrada filed Senate Bill (SB) 1786 after being made aware of an alleged wiretapped conversation between President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and former Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano.
A tape of the supposed conversation showed that Arroyo allegedly ordered Garcillano to ensure a one million-vote lead over her closest rival at the time, movie actor Fernando Poe Jr.
Estrada said electoral fraud should be considered a heinous crime because it abused the right of suffrage.