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Pacquiao to seek Senate approval of death penalty by year-end


Senator Manny Pacquiao on Saturday said he willb e moving to have the proposed death penalty bill approved in the Senate before the year ends.

"Magba-budget din kasi pero mamadaliin natin, sikapin natin na maaprub ngayong taon na ito," Pacquiao said in a radio dwIZ interview.

Pacquiao, a Born Again Christian pastor and a supporter of the death penalty, filed a bill in the Senate back in 2016 for its reimposition.

He reiterated that it should be revived, saying even the Bible grants "authorities," or governments, the power to implement it.

"Yes, biblically andiyan 'yan sa Bible. Kung Bible ang pag-uusapan, binibigyan ng karapatan ang authority to impose death penalty to those who commit henious crime, even in our Constitution, andyan 'yan."

Pacquiao said one or two hearings are still expected before it could be discussed at the plenary.

"Wala naman sigurong problema, pagdedebatehan naman 'yan, magko-conduct ako ng hearing para mapag-usapan para maliwanagan ang lahat," he said.

For the senator, the death penalty should cover heinous crimes like drug trafficking, rape with murder, kidnap for ransom, and robbery with murder.

However, Pacquiao said he was also open to limit the death penalty to big-time drug traffickers. "Open naman at least sa drugs kasi 'yun talaga nagpapahirap sa sambayanang Pilipino."

Pacquiao expressed confidence he would be getting the approval of his colleagues. — MDM, GMA News

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