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Philippines, 09 Apr 2026 |
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MIXED REACTIONS ON PACQUIAO'S SPEECH PhilBoxing.com Mon, 08 Aug 2016  Amidst the outcry from some sectors especially those that denounce death penalty, neophyte senator Manny Pacquiao drew praises from fellow solons and even political analysts for his ?courage to accept interpellation?. Pacquiao, who raised his support for the re-imposition of capital punishment even mentioned few phrases from the bible, expressed concern at the alarming increase in crimes proliferated by drug addiction. ?Walang pinipiling mabibiktima ang illegal na droga. Even innocent civilians who denounce drugs can be unwilling victims once an addict goes out to the street and wreaks havoc,? said Pacquiao. ?Masyadong maluwag ang ating batas para sa mga drug traffickers. Mas magiging epektibo ang pagpapatupad ng batas kung lalagyan ito ng pangil, pangil na agad magpapahinang loob sa mga nagbabalak pa lamang gumawa ng kalokohan,? he added while stressing that death penalty has never lost its place in the Constitution. A devout Christian, Pacquiao stressed that even the bible has provisions for death penalty as ?God is not just a God of mercy, but also a God of justice?. In his first privilege speech, the boxer-turned-politician delved on a very controversial and divisive issue of capital punishment, surprising everyone at the session hall. The 36-year old lawmaker bared that drug trafficking is just one of the three heinous crimes he wants to be meted with death penalty. The two others are aggravated rape and kidnap for ransom. But what struck other senators, and those at the gallery, was when Pacquiao agreed to be interpellated, unlike former Justice Secretary and now Senator Leila De Lima who tacitly declined questions after she delivered her privilege speech last Tuesday. Well known political analyst Mon Casiple was taken aback upon hearing about Pacquiao?s take on death penalty and his approval to be grilled by fellow senators. ?That surprised me. Ang tapang nya. To think that the issue he raised was death penalty, he more than amazed me, kasi mapapasubo talaga siya run. Napaka-kumplikado nung paksa na yun,? said Casiple. ?Parang siyang manok na tinapon sa mga gutom na leon sa ginawa nya na yun, ang tapang nya,? he added. First term senator Sonny Angara admired the boldness of Pacquiao in making known his stand and opposition to heinous crimes even after interpellations from Sotto, De Lima, Risa Hontiveros, Joel Vllanueva and Kiko Pangilinan. ?It was a good first speech for Manny. He explained clearly his position on why we needed to restore the death penalty for heinous crimes, especially in view of the rising drug menace, with fathers raping daughters and other horrible encounters,? said Angara. ?I congratulated him for it.? Asked about Pacquiao?s first ever session hall debate, Angara said: ?He performed well, answering questions from veteran senators.? Meanwhile, the bible preaching Pacquiao bared that he leaves it to the decision of the committee as to the manner on how execution will be carried out. ?Bahala na po kami sa committee tungkol dun sa kung paano isasagawa, ang mahalaga muna ngayon, ma-revive an death penalty,? said Pacquiao, who denied concurring with the suggestion of Sotto about death by hanging and firing squad. ?Hindi po with finality yung sagot ko na yun. Funny banter lang namin ni Senator Sotto yun. It was just a joke. Joke nga lang rin yung sinabi ko na ?sisipain na lang yung upuan?. Alam ko naman kasi na lahat dadaan rin sa committee hearing,? he added. ?Humingi rin naman ako ng tawad sa huli, lalo dun sa mga na-offend.? Meanwhile, Pacquiao bared that the agenda of his next privilege speech, probably in two weeks, will be to expose the ills that stunt the development of sports in the country.  |
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