Pacquiao urges to give death penalty a chance in wake of mother-son slay in Tarlac

MANILA, Philippines — “I hope we can give the death penalty another chance.”

Senator Manny Pacquiao had this to say Tuesday, two days after Police Master Sergeant Jonel Nuezca shot dead Sonia Gregorio and her son, Frank Anthony, in Paniqui, Tarlac—an incident that has seemingly revived debates as to whether or not the death penalty should be reimposed in the country.

Pacquiao, who is known to push for the death penalty despite his religious background, said the police shooting underscores the need to reinstate capital punishment in the country.

“Naisip niya siguro na mahina naman ang ating batas at kayang-kaya niyang pagdusahan sa kulungan ang kanyang ginawang karumal-dumal na krimen,” Pacquiao said.

(He probably thought that our law was weak and he could afford to suffer in prison for the heinous crime he committed.)

“That’s the same mindset prompts criminals to carry out even the most heinous of crimes. Alam kasi ng mga kriminal at mga utak kriminal na makukulong lamang sila kapag gumawa sila ng karumal-dumal na krimen,” the senator added.

(Criminals and criminal brains know that they will only be imprisoned if they commit a heinous crime.)

Pacquiao then expressed hopes that the death penalty would be given another shot to hasten justice for heinous crimes victims.

“Bigyan sana ulit natin ng pagkakataon itong death penalty dahil sa tingin ko, ito na lang ang kulang upang magiging mabilis at magiging epektibo ang ating pagbibigay ng hustisya sa ating kababayang biktima ng mga heinous crimes,” Pacquiao said.

(Let’s give this death penalty a chance because I think this is all that is needed so that we can bring justice to our countrymen who are victims of heinous crimes quickly and effectively.)

Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, a former chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), earlier said that Nuezca “deserves the death penalty.”

“Yung ginawa ng pulis na cold-blooded killing is double murder (or two counts of murder) and a heinous crime na ang dapat parusa ay death penalty pero hanggang ngayon ay hirap na hirap pa ring umusad yung ino-author kong death penalty bill,” deal Rosa said.

(The  cold-blooded  killing   by the policeman is double murder and a heinous   crime that deserves the death penalty, but  until  now, my death penalty bill  is not moving.) [ac]