The neophyte senator says God is ‘for death penalty’.
The Philippine Senate’s first session for the week was more of a bible study than a regular session when Senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao delivered his first ever privilege speech in the 17th Congress on his proposal to reimpose death penalty.
In his speech on Monday afternoon, Pacquiao insisted that it is about time to implement capital punishment against those who are involved in illegal drugs and heinous crimes.
For the world-renowned boxer, the death penalty is “lawful, moral, and sanctioned governmental action.”
“Having read the Bible on a regular basis – I am convinced that God is not just a God of mercy, but he is also a God of justice,” he added.
Pacquiao, also a pastor, cited Bible quotes which supposedly back the death penalty.
“In Genesis Chapter 9 verse 6, ‘Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for in the image of God, has God made mankind.'”
“Sa Exodus 21:12, sinasabi ng banal na Bibliya na: Ang nanakit sa isang tao, na anopa’t mamatay, ay papataying walang pagsala (the Holy Bible says: Whoever hurts a person who died would also be killed).”
The senator also mentioned Romans Chapter 13, verse 4, which says: “For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on to the wrongdoer.”
After incessant questions from colleagues, Pacquiao maintained that God supports death penalty to “punish” and “discipline wrongdoers.”
“Are we greater than God because God is allowing death penalty in every nation and country?” he said.
First to raise question was Senate majority leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto where he asked how Pacquiao’s proposed death penalty would be done since it was not stated in the Senate bill.
The Pinoy Ring icon answered that he wants it done through “hanging” and “firing squad” because only by these that the government can save financially.
Senators Joel Villanueva Riza Hontiveros and Gringo Honasan had thrown their queries to the boxer-politician.
But Pacquiao was obviously grilled when Senator Leila de Lima had to chance to interpellate him. De Lima, a former chief of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), is strongly opposing the death penalty.
The lady senator emphasized that the trend among the countries around the world is to eradicate death penalty and here goes a neophyte senator pushing for the capital punishment.
But Pacquiao reiterated that laws in the Philippines are being enacted to serve its purpose in addressing the needs of the society and need not be based on the moves that other countries make.