Duterte reveals to the media his plans to restore the death penalty. (AP)
Tough-talking Davao City Mayor Rodrigo “Digong” Duterte yesterday did not mince words when he talked about his plans to restore death penalty for heinous crimes.
“I would lead Congress to restore death penalty,” the presumptive President said in a press conference in Davao City.
“Heinous crimes committed with unlicensed firearms must be (penalized with) death. Rape plus death of victim must be death penalty,” he said.
“Kidnapping with ransom, then you killed (the victim), must be death penalty.”
“Robbery with homicide with rape, double the hanging. After the first, there will be another ceremony for the second,” Duterte said.
He said he “would like” to see the head of the criminal “completely severed” from the body.
TAXI DRIVERS TOLD: GIVE EXACT CHANGE
Duterte also warned taxi drivers during a televised press conference in Davao City yesterday to give their passengers exact change.
“Yung mga taxi both dito sa Davao pati sa Maynila, alam mo pag kinuha mo pera ng tao dahil wala kang sinsilyo (coins or change) at di mo binalik, that is estafa,” he said.
“It is not a simple violation. I already told the drivers here,” he said in a mix of Filipino and English. “It is not your money and you go away with it.”
Duterte said drivers who do not have loose change should not go out to work.
“It behooves upon the taxi company now to provide the drivers with loose changes at the start of the day,” he said.
He also advised commuters to “try to figure out the amount that you would have to pay to reach your destination.”
He said drivers without loose change can just go to a nearby store and have their paper bills converted to coins and smaller denominations.
CURFEW FOR MINORS
Duterte also vowed to order the police to arrest the parents of children found wandering on the streets beyond 10 p.m.
Duterte said he would implement the 10 p.m. curfew on unescorted minors nationwide.
Duterte said he would have the children’s parents arrested for abandonment.
“My order is not to arrest the child,” he told reporters Sunday night, adding that after placing the child into the custody of concerned agencies, the police would then arrest the parents.
Last year, two mothers in Davao City were arrested for violating Republic Act 7610, or an act providing for stronger deterrence and special protection against child abuse.
The Davao City chapter of the feminist group Gabriela, which has worked with Duterte to protect women’s welfare in the past, however, criticized the arrest of the mothers, saying they had to work odd jobs all day to bring food to the table. One of the children ran away from home.