Pacquiao Clashes With Philippine Senator On Capital Punishment: Debate Included Jesus' Execution

Manny Pacquiao was involved in a different kind of clash on Wednesday (PHT) against a fellow Philippine senator. The renowned Filipino boxer is a staunch supporter of the Death Penalty bill, a passage that would reinstate capital punishment in his home country.

Pacquiao delivered a privilege speech that urges the committee on justice and human rights to prioritize the proposed measure; then things started to heat up. Franklin Drilon, a minority leader of the Philippine Senate, stood up and questioned the fighting senator.

Drilon stated that if the bill is enacted into law, capital punishment would be imposed by judges and justices of the Philippine court. He said that "these men are human beings, they can be fallible, they can commit mistakes."

Senator Manny agreed and said that "no one is perfect," but he adds that the "most important thing is we have to trust our authority... the government."

Drilon continued to press the issue; he said that "all of us are fallible, we can commit mistakes... in the history of man, only one can claim infallibility?" Quipped the senator, he then asked if Pacquiao "knows that man."

The eight-division champ replied: "God, Mr. President." Then in a sudden turn, the argument on whether or not Jesus Christ was wrongfully executed emerged.

Drilon queried if "Jesus Christ was a victim of wrongful execution" while haughtily directing "is that correct" to Pacquiao. The WBA super welterweight champ disagreed and noted that "Jesus sacrificed himself to save the lives of people."

However, Drilon was persistent in his catechisms and asked: "are you saying the execution of Jesus Christ was a correct execution?" In the middle of the exchange, Senate President Vicente Sotto III intervened and said that the people would not have been redeemed if "Jesus did not die on the cross."

After a quick pause, Drilon agreed with Pacquiao's contention that the imposition of the death penalty is not a problem of constitutionality according to the 1987 Philippine Constitution.

However, when he asked if their argument "should be a question of policy," Manny replied no. A perplexed Drilon answered back and maintained they are "here in the halls of Congress precisely to debate on policy." Pacquiao unable to respond to Drilon's queries later conceded.

In the same committee hearing, other senators also interpellated Pacquiao on his privilege speech. Drilon also said that he would continue to question the Death Penalty on the resumption of the discussion.