Pacquiao bats for death anew: Even Christ was sentenced to die

Senator Manny Pacquiao on Tuesday defended anew the proposals reviving the death penalty, saying even Jesus Christ was sentenced to death. 

“Sa Panginoon, biblically, binibigyan ng Panginoon ng karapatan ang government to use capital punishment,” Pacquiao, also a pastor, said in an interview with reporters.

“Even Jesus Christ nga nasintensyahan ng kamatayan dahil government nag-impose talaga ng kamatayan,” he added.

Pacquiao was referring to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ after he was condemned by Pontius Pilate.

Three of the seven bills proposing the revival of the death penalty were filed by Pacquiao, a close ally of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Pacquiao said the Bible allowed death penalty.

“The Bible says 'do not kill,' ang ibig sabihin nito pag nagkasala ka sa'kin, di kita pwedeng patayin, let the authority handle that,” the boxer-turned-senator said. 

“The Bible says whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God instituted,” he added.

Senator Panfilo Lacson suggested that Pacquiao to head a subcommittee to conduct hearings on the death penalty law to speed up discussions.

Lacson pointed out that Senator Richard Gordon, who is the chair of the Senate justice committee where the death penalty bills are pending, is opposed to the said measures.

“I cannot imagine somebody who’s against a bill he is defending. E di lahat na amendments na pabor sa kanya ia-accept niya,” Lacson said.

Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III, meanwhile, sees lengthy debates on the death penalty bills.

“Sa tingin ko, right now, 50-50 [ang senators],” he said.

Sotto admitted that he was feeling hesitant on proposals to reimpose death penalty, saying he is now inclined to support such punishment only for high-level drug trafficking.

“All the other crimes kasi, rehabilitation is possible. Yung sinasabi nilang bulukin sa kulungan is better,” he explained. —NB, GMA News