MANILA, Philippines — If it were up to Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, the police officer who shot dead a mother and her son in Tarlac should be “burned alive.”
Alvarez made the remark as talks of reviving the death penalty came to light anew after the brutal killings of Sonia Gregorio and her son Frank Anthony who were both shot by Police Senior Master Sergeant Jonel Nuezca.
The Davao lawmaker is an advocate of death penalty.
In a phone interview, Alvarez was asked about his reaction to netizens calling for the revival of the capital punishment for Nuezca.
“Ah kung ako tatanungin dapat ang parusa doon cremation, hindi bitay… Sunugin. Sunugin na buhay, oo,” Alvarez said.
“Sa tingin ko ang dapat na parusa doon sa suspect ay diretso na sa cremation yan. I-cremate na kaagad… Eh tingnan mo yung ginawa niya sa mga tao. Nakakaawa yung nanay o lola, inakap pa yung bata o. Pinoprotektahan. Tapos ganun-ganun na lang, barilin mo pareho,” he added.
Nonetheless, Alvarez said sentiments on the revival of death penalty should be asked of the Senate, and not the House.
“Alam mo hindi dapat sa akin itanong yan eh. Dahil alam mo yan yung isang controversial bill na pinasa namin sa House of Representatives nung 17th Congress,” Alvarez said.
“Kaya lang pagdating sa Senado walang nangyari. So siguro mas maganda doon mo itanong sa kanila,” he added.
Meanwhile, Alvarez said that an overhaul in the Philippine National Police (PNP) should take place.
“Ewan ko, malamang psychological disorder na yan eh. Yung ano ba… Parang ang pakiramdam nila, hawak nila yung baril ay pwede na nilang gawin kahit anong gusto nila. Parang napaka daling upuan ang buhay ng tao,” Alvarez said.
Initial investigation showed that the suspect arrived in the house of victims, and after a heated confrontation, shot them point-blank using a 9 mm service firearm at around 5:10 p.m. Sunday.
Police said the suspect fled the crime scene onboard a motorcycle after the incident. However, a video of the incident made the rounds of social media and has now become viral, showing the suspect’s face.
According to Lt. Col. Noriel Rombaoa, chief of Paniqui MPS, the shooting incident happened after a confrontation between the suspect and the victims over the firing of a “boga,” a noisemaker usually made of PVC pipe or bamboo for revelries.