Manny Pacquiao quotes the Bible in defence of death penalty

Philippine: Philippine boxing icon and senator Manny Pacquiao on Monday defended a controversial proposal by President Rodrigo Duterte to restore the death penalty for drug traffickers using the Bible saying it is “approved by God.”


Using his first speech at the senate, the devout evangelical Christian insist on capital punishment, calling it lawful and moral “especially in the eyes of God”.

“When the government punishes, it’s not an individual act. That’s approved by God. That’s what the Bible says”, Pacquiao said.

“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.”

Manny Pacquiao was elected to the senate in May owing to his popularity as a boxing legend among Filipinos, who seer him as a national hero.


Duterte who came into power in June declared a bloody crackdown on crime, especially illegal drugs, telling police and citizens to shoot any drug suspects on sight as he vowed to introduce executions by hanging for “retribution”

Police have reportedly killed more than 400 drug suspects.

In 2006, the Philippines abolished the death penalty after constant opposition from the Catholic Church, the religion of 80 per cent of Filipinos.

Pacquiao also said he preferred death by hanging or firing squad to reduce drug-related crimes.

When asked by a colleague if this was because hanging was a cheaper option than lethal injection, Pacquiao said jokingly:

“You’ll just kick the chair. We can also say the chair was just knocked down.”

Pacquiao said he has filed several bills on the death penalty including for drug crimes, rape and murder because Philippine laws “lacked teeth”.

During his speech, Pacquiao repeatedly quoted several Bible passages, which made another colleague calling him a “pastor”.
But Paccquiao said he saw no contradiction between his beliefs and his support for the death penalty adding that:

“God allows the death penalty to discipline the people and to punish those wrongdoers.”