PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief Oscar Albayalde said on Thursday, July 25, that he prefers death penalty through lethal injection.
"That depends on what the law will say. We are civilized people here so probably lethal injection would suffice," he said.
Albayalde said death penalty should be meted on criminals involved in terrorism, big time drug trafficking and other heinous crimes related to the use of illegal drugs such as rape of minors.
He said terrorist who will be found guilty of being directly involved in bloody attacks that claim lives as well as the financiers of these attacks should also be punished with death.
Both Albayalde and his predecessor Ronald dela Rosa, who is now a senator, said death penalty is a “good deterrent” against crimes.
Dela Rosa, however, prefers death penalty through public execution, particularly firing squad.
President Rodrigo Duterte, in his fourth State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday, renewed his call for the restoration of the death penalty.
Capital punishment was abolished in 2006, during the administration of then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
Aside from illegal drugs related crimes, Duterte wants death penalty for people involved in corruption particularly plunder.
Earlier, Albayalde noted the importance of a credible justice system before the restoration of the death penalty to ensure that only the most guilty will be punished. (SunStar Philippines)