Duterte might prefer use of rope for low-cost death penalty – Palace

MANILA, Philippines — If he would have it his way, President Rodrigo Duterte primarily wants a thrifty way to implement capital punishment in the country – using only a rope or death by hanging.

Malacañang said this Tuesday, a day after Duterte delivered his fourth State of the Nation Address (Sona) where he repeated his call for the reimposition of the death penalty for crimes related to illegal drugs and plunder.

READ: Duterte renews push for death penalty on drug-related crimes

Sought for his comment, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a Palace briefing, “Kung tatanungin mo siya (Duterte), walang gastos eh ano na lang, lubid.”

Aside from death by hanging, Malacañang would also push for the death penalty by lethal injection.

“But I think ‘yung dati natin siguro, lethal injection siguro ‘yung dati,” Panelo said.

Asked why Duterte wanted to revive the death penalty in the country, Panelo said in a text message: “The imposition of the death penalty is two-pronged, deterrent and punishment.”

In his Monday’s Sona, Duterte said: “I am aware that we still have a long way to go against this social menace. Let (it be) the reason why I advocate the imposition of the death penalty for crimes related to illegal drugs,” he said. /kga