Manny Pacquiao, Duterte’s perfect match in drug war
By Dung Phan
Far away from the boxing ring in the United States where Manny Pacquiao had his first fight, to the stage in the Philippines where Duterte first delivered his inauguration speech, there was one unifying thread between sheer momentum: their popularity.
Pacquiao, known as "the destroyer" or "Fist of Nation" embodied the country's struggles and triumphs, becoming the public face of the Philippines. Duterte, nicknamed as "the punisher" emerged beyond the ruling elites with a very modest lifestyle but a strong commitment to transforming the country. And behind their friendship which dates back at least 15 years is a mutual support, political wills and a question over its influence on the Philippines' future.
When Pacquiao admitted for the first time he had used and experimented all kinds of drugs as a teenager last week, he also proudly praised his friendship with Duterte, stressing that the …show more content…
He also believes hanging is more "humane" than lethal injection.
Pacquiao's call for the death penalty drew criticism from one of the Catholic Church's leading Bible scholars, Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, for using the Bible to justify his personal opinion. "The Bible has been used much too often to justify even the most inhuman and ungodly things," he said.
Pacquiao became a rare born-again Christian in 2012 in a predominantly Catholic nation. Even though he admitted the conversion changed his life in a way that "he and his wife are happier than ever," his faith was called into question after he made a controversial statement comparing LGBT individuals to
By Dung Phan
Far away from the boxing ring in the United States where Manny Pacquiao had his first fight, to the stage in the Philippines where Duterte first delivered his inauguration speech, there was one unifying thread between sheer momentum: their popularity.
Pacquiao, known as "the destroyer" or "Fist of Nation" embodied the country's struggles and triumphs, becoming the public face of the Philippines. Duterte, nicknamed as "the punisher" emerged beyond the ruling elites with a very modest lifestyle but a strong commitment to transforming the country. And behind their friendship which dates back at least 15 years is a mutual support, political wills and a question over its influence on the Philippines' future.
When Pacquiao admitted for the first time he had used and experimented all kinds of drugs as a teenager last week, he also proudly praised his friendship with Duterte, stressing that the …show more content…
He also believes hanging is more "humane" than lethal injection.
Pacquiao's call for the death penalty drew criticism from one of the Catholic Church's leading Bible scholars, Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, for using the Bible to justify his personal opinion. "The Bible has been used much too often to justify even the most inhuman and ungodly things," he said.
Pacquiao became a rare born-again Christian in 2012 in a predominantly Catholic nation. Even though he admitted the conversion changed his life in a way that "he and his wife are happier than ever," his faith was called into question after he made a controversial statement comparing LGBT individuals to