Pacquiao insists anew: Death penalty for heinous crimes 'biblical'

Senator Manny Pacquiao on Wednesday stood his ground that death penalty for heinous crimes should be reinstated in the Philippines, saying God allows governments to hand down such a punishment.

"Maraming kontra, maraming pabor. Nahahati ang mind ng tao pero gustoko lang pong i-explain sa lahat na ang pag-reinstate ng death penalty sa bansa natin, hindi po illegal," Pacquiao said during a Senate session.

"Hindi po labag sa mata ng gobyerno, sa mata ng Panginoon dahil biblically po, allowed po ang gobyerno—the authority which is established by God—to impose death penalty [for heinous crimes]," he added.

In the past, Pacquiao had already argued for the death penalty, insisting that it is lawful, moral and a sanctioned government action. Among the Bible verses he had cited to support his argument were Genesis 9:6, Exodus, 21:12, and Romans 13:4.

Pacquiao has three pending death penalty bills in the upper chamber—Senate Bill No. 189 for manufacturing and trafficking of dangerous drugs, Senate Bill 381 for kidnapping, and Senate Bill No. 382 for rape with homicide.

Seven other bills seeking the reimposition of capital punishment in the country are pending at the committee level.

Senate committee on justice chair Richard Gordon, opposing death penalty, said hearings will be conducted "at the proper time."

President Rodrigo Duterte, during his 5th State of the Nation Address, urged Congress to allow lethal injection for drug convicts. -MDM, GMA News