Group backs Manny Pacquiao’s death penalty proposal

MANILA, Philippines — An anti-crime and corruption group supported yesterday Sen. Manny Pacquiao’s proposal to restore the death penalty.

“The death penalty should be implemented by firing squad as proposed by Pacquaio,” said lawyer Jose Malvar Villegas Jr., founder and chairman of the Katipunan Kontra Krimen at Korapsyon (KKK), during a forum in Pasig City.

Malvar said large-scale online investment scams and economic sabotage should be considered heinous crimes.

Thousands of Filipino investors are being victimized online because of the absence of a “tough law that will protect them,” KKK director general Melchor Chavez said.

The group has asked Senators Bong Go, Ronald dela Rosa and Pacquiao as well as House Pro Tempore Luis Raymond Villafuerte to approve the death penalty bill and include other crimes such as plunder, election fraud, vote-buying, land-grabbing and planting of evidence.

Meanwhile, the KKK will hold a crime prevention summit in Batangas next month to coincide with the celebration of the 154th birth anniversary of Gen. Miguel Malvar.

Batangas Gov. Hermilando Mandanas will be the guest of honor and speaker. Bernardo Villegas, co-founder of the CRC-University of Asia and the Pacific, and Go were invited as resource speakers.