Pacquiao invokes Bible: Follow authorities, rebels to bring justice upon themselves

Senator Manny Pacquiao on Saturday invoked the Bible to indicate that the people should follow government authorities, warning that all insurgents the government "will bring justice upon themselves."

As he wrapped up the explanation of his vote in support of President Rodrigo Duterte's extension of martial law supposedly to quell rebellion in Mindanao, Pacquiao adverted to Romans 13.

"Let everyone subject themselves to the governing authorities for there is no governing authorities except that which God has established. The authorities that exist has been established by God," Pacquiao said in the plenary of the joint session.

"Consequently whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves," he added.

With 261 affirmative votes from both houses, Congress in a joint session on Saturday overwhelmingly approved President Rodrigo Duterte’s request to extend martial law in Mindanao by five more months or until December 31, 2017.

The vote came hours before Duterte’s 60-day martial law proclamation lapsed on Saturday night.

The said proclamation was issued on May 23 following the attack of the Maute group in Marawi City.

On the part of the Senate, the vote was 16 in favor and four against.

Those against were members of the minority bloc: Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, and Senators Francis “Kiko”  Pangilinan, Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, and Risa Hontiveros.

The vote in the House of Representatives was 245 for and 14 against.

Only 158 votes from both houses of Congress were needed to get a majority. -NB, GMA News