WORLD boxing champion Senator Manny Pacquiao on Monday delivered his first privilege speech backing the reimposition of capital punishment but was quickly questioned by another neophyte senator, former Justice secretary Leila de Lima.
After delivering his speech, Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III mildly asked how he wanted capital punishment to be executed, but Pacquiao dodged the question and said the manner could be agreed up on later.
But when Sotto pressed for an answer, Pacquiao said suggested musketry or hanging, adding that the latter would probably be cheaper since the executioner could just kick the seat of the convict sentenced to death.
But De Lima took her turn and declared she was strongly and passionately against the death penalty and prodded Pacquiao on why he proposed the restoration of capital punishment in the country. “Was it because you believe it is a deterrent or retribution?” she asked.
Pacquiao argued death penalty is not a deterrent but it would help reduce the commission of heinous crimes and that it is a punishment of the sins committed against God and society.
But De Lima stressed the more effective approach in dealing with heinous crimes would be to enforce the law more effectively.
Pacquiao replied by citing the Bible and said death penalty is allowed in the law of God and it would be better if the public know there is death penalty so they will be warned against perpetrating crimes.
“Death penalty is lawful, moral and sanctioned government action. Having read the Bible on a regular basis, I am convinced that God is not just a God of mercy, but also a God of justice,” said Pacquiao.
“So on the issue of death penalty, I could not help but consult the Bible and I found numerous verses on it,” Pacquiao added.
When De Lima and Senator Francis Pangilinan asked for data to prove that death penalty has helped lower the commission of heinous crimes, Pacquiao could not reply.
Senator Risa Hontiveros, for her part, sought an assurance that the death penalty will not victimize the innocent and will not be discriminatory, such that only the poor went to the gallows.