Lacson on shifting stance on death penalty: Is it wrong to change your mind if awakened with truth?

Presidential aspirant Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson

MANILA, Philippines — Presidential aspirant Senator Panfilo “Ping Lacson” on Saturday defended changing his stance on death penalty, saying there’s nothing wrong with changing one’s mind when one has been “awakened” with the truth.

Speaking on Jessica Soho’s Presidential Interviews aired on GMA-7, Lacson, who was once a staunch advocate for the reinstitution of capital punishment, previously said he changed his mind because of a movie “The Life of David Gale,” which was about a man who was on death row.

“Awakening sa akin iyon eh,” Lacson said, referring to the movie. “I was awakened by the fact na pwedeng ma-execute ang taong inosente.”

He added: “So, masama ba na magpalit ka ng pag-iisip dahil namulat ka sa isang katotohanan na talagang pwedeng mangyari sa isang tao?”

“Mas mahirap na na-realize mo na merong kang maling pag-iisip, ayaw mo pa din baguhin ang iyong pananaw o posisyon sa isang bagay,” he added.

Aside from Lacson, fellow presidential aspirants Vice President Leni Robredo, Sen. Manny Pacquiao, and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso also thumbed down death penalty when the host asked them of their stance to the capital punishment.

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