Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano (Abang Lingkod Partylist) yesterday said he will remain consistent in his stand during the 17th Congress against the reimposition of the death penalty.

“This is not about politics, for me this is about my personal religious beliefs,” he said, in reaction to the call of President Rodrigo Duterte in his State of the Nation Address for the restoration of the death penalty.

“Death penalty restoration depends on the actual wording of the law, which I haven’t had the chance to read, so no comment until I do,” Rep. Francisco Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) said.

The other Negros Occidental representatives had not replied to the DAILY STAR question on their positions on the death penalty, as of press time.

Meanwhile, Rep. Genaro Alvarez (Neg. Occ., 6th District) said he is looking forward to the creation of the Department of Water Resources so that far-flung areas with inadequate water supplies will be given attention.

Rep. Leo Rafael Cueva (Neg. Occ., 2nd District) said the president in his SONA tackled all issues. “The speech was delivered well and clear,” he said, especially with the president reminding again all government agencies including LGUs, to streamline the way they give their service.*