Pacquiao defends death penalty for drug lords: ‘Wala naman drug lord na mahirap’

Senator Manny Pacquiao hopes to get the support of his colleagues for the death penalty bill, saying his proposal only targets drug lords.

Pacquiao, who was appointed chairman of the Senate subcommittee on death penalty, explained there are no poor drug lords anyway.

“Mahihirapan talaga kami to get the majority but we’re going to explain to my colleagues na pipiliin lang natin, kumbaga ang gusto namin dito is yung drug lords. Of course, wala naman sigurong durg lords na mahirap so hindi ‘yung mga users,” Pacquiao said in an interview on ANC.

“That’s why we are going to conduct another hearing para pag-usapan, ma-tackle about specifications of kind of drug lords, gaano kalaki, gaano kadaming droga,” he added.

Pacquiao said some of his colleagues had expressed support for the measure just as long as death penalty is limited to drug lords.

Pacquiao has filed three separate bills on death penalty; one on aggravated rape, one on kidnapping, and one on certain heinous crimes. At least nine bills proposing death penalty are pending before the Senate subcommittee.

Citing Article III, Section 19, Pacquiao said death penalty in the Philippines was never abolished.

“Excessive fines shall not be imposed, nor cruel, degrading or inhuman punishment inflicted. Neither shall death penalty be imposed, unless, for compelling reasons involving heinous crimes, the Congress hereafter provides for it. Any death penalty already imposed shall be reduced to reclusion perpetua,” the said section states.

“So may exception na ‘unless for compelling reasons involving heinous crimes’ so meaning, the death penalty in our country is not abolished. It’s just moratorium issued by President Gloria nung time niya,” Pacquiao said.

In 2006, then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed Republic Act 9346 abolishing death penalty in the Philippines.

Pacquiao further said that his support for the death penalty law does not go against his religious beliefs.

“I am a born again Christian. I agree thou shall not kill. I believe that. Ang gusto ko malaman nila, we are not talking individually. Ang sabi ng Panginoon, huwag ka pumatay sa kapwa mo. Huwag mo ilagay ang batas sa kamay but there is authority meaning the government which is established and instituted by God,” the senator said.

“Puwede tayo parusahan ng government,” he stressed. —ALG, GMA News