If the death penalty is revived, members of the police force who commit heinous crimes should be placed on death row, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said on Wednesday.
“Hindi ako talaga natutuwa na itong mga pulis natin na nagpapatupad ng batas ay siya pa ang gagawa ng mga ganyang karumaldumal na krimen. Sabi ko nga, kung ibabalik ang death penalty, dapat isama yang men in uniform na gumagawa ng heinous crimes,” he said in a Teleradyo interview.
Año made the statement after the Tarlac shooting incident where a cop killed two civilians.
“Betrayal of sworn duty ‘yan, betrayal of your badge yan. Parang kabaligtaran yung ginawa mo na dapat ikaw ang nagpapatupad ng kaayusan, ng batas,” he added.
The Department of the Interior and Local government chief also expressed hope for the immediate passage of the resinstatement of death penalty in Congress.
“Susuportahan natin ‘yan at sana mas mabilis na maipasa yan. Tayo lang naman halos ang bansa dito sa Asia na walang death penalty lalo na sa larangan ng illegal drugs. Kailangan natin ‘yan para mas lalong sumunod ang mga tao sa batas,” he said.
Malacañang on Tuesday said the death penalty revival remained among President Rodrigo Duterte’s priorities but its fate was in Congress’ hands.
“Malinaw po ang stand ng Presidente diyan – pabor po ang Presidente sa death penalty lalung-lalo na po sa wide-scale drug trafficking pero nasa kamay na po iyan ng mga mambabatas,” Palace spokesman Harry Roque said.
“Pero nakasalalay po ang mangyayari diyan sa batas na iyan sa kamay siyempre ng mga mambabatas ng Mababang Kapulungan at ng ating Senado,” he added.
The revival of the death penalty was among Duterte’s promises during his presidential campaign in 2016. John Ezekiel J. Hirro