A direct opposition to the proposal to cane people who are convicted of breaking the law. The top brass of the Guam Police Department saying all that while speaking before a room of island Rotarians in Tumon. And the chief is sticking to his guns.

"As a leader and public servant and as a human being, I don’t support the caning bill," proclaimed Steve Ignacio. Guam's "top cop" reemphasizing today the comments he made before the Rotary Club in Tumon on Wednesday afternoon. He referred to freshman Senator Dwayne San Nicolas’ Bill 21. It would authorize judicial corporal punishment as an additional form of judicial sentence.

Attendees on asking the chief during his presentation on crime involving the island’s youth about the proposal.

Ignacio telling KUAM, "I stated publicly that I don’t support it. I think it’s an ambitious bill. It’s a brave bill on behalf of Senator San Nicolas but I think it goes against the grain in our current society. I think when I was growing up there was some form of corporal punishment that I received. I got spankings, but I wasn’t taken out in public and caned for misdeeds that I committed as a minor or as a child growing up."

Ignacio adding the current punishment laws in place are adequate, noting, "To me it was kind of to shake the tree a little and get public discourse on the matter."

Senator San Nicolas tells KUAM that's exactly his reasoning. His measure has been rather controversial since being introduced in late January.

San Nicolas during the bill’s public hearing last month also defending why he feels the proposal is desperately needed. "I am not withdrawing this bill. I am going to go down with this bill if I have to. I am sick and tired of people being victimized. You sit there and let this stuff happen. We are not going to take this no more," he said.

The senator contined, "I sit here representing all those people who are sick and tired of crime, sick and tired of being victimized, and I am not going to have this anymore. Not on my watch."

And to the chief's opposition, San Nicolas says, "I can't tell everybody to be bold. I can ask them to be bold and brave in search for a solution, but it's really up to them. I do respect the chief a lot but in regards to my caning bill, I will have to continue the fight."

No word yet when the bill will be brought up for discussion and a vote on the session floor.