Pacquiao wants the firing squad for drug smugglers

By Meanne Corvera
Eagle News Service

Senator Manny Pacquiao on Wednesday, Aug. 15, said he wants drug smugglers to face the firing squad.

Pacquiao made the comment after the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said shabu worth P6.8 million slipped through the country, hidden in lifters.

The lifters were discovered in Cavite, but were empty.

Customs Chief Isidro Lapena later said the lifters tested negative for shabu, prompting President Rodrigo Duterte to say the claim there was shabu in the first place was “pure speculation.”

“Parang ang gusto kapag nahuli ang nagpasok ng droga na ‘yan, ilagay sa tabi dun at ipakita sa taumbayan, i-firing squad. Kung ako i-firing squad talaga kasi antigas talaga ng ulo,” Pacquiao said.

He said he understood why the President was dismayed at the current situation.

“Ang pangulo talagang nakipaglaban dito, war against drugs. Can you imagine ilang beses na niyang sinasabi na bawal ang droga ayaw na niya ang droga and yet may nakakalusot na drugs, nakakapuslit dito sa Customs,” Pacquiao said.

He said he was bent on pushing for the revival of death penalty in the country.

He clarified, however, that this would be applicable only to heinous crimes such as drug trafficking, rape with murder and kidnap for ransom.

He said he was also open to confining the application of the death penalty to those proven to be drug traffickers.

If he gets his colleagues’ support, the resolution seeking for the revival may be approved in December.

“Kapag mga ganyan tapos di nila susundin ang batas, wala silang takot sa batas, magpapakulong na lang ako para ko mafiring squad yung drug lord na yun na nagpasok sa Pilipinas,” he said.