Death penalty for terrorism, murder, rape of minors – Albayalde

MANILA, Philippines  – Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde on Thursday said terrorists, murderers and rapists of minors must likewise be sentenced to death, along with big-time drug traffickers and plunderers.

“One thing is illegal drugs and also terrorism, and probably other heinous crimes [like] murder, and rape of minors,” he said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel.

In a text message to INQUIRER.net, Albayalde, however, clarified that he believes mere membership in terror groups should not be punishable by death.

“But those guilty or directly involved, including financiers, in a terror attack that caused lives, I believe, should be meted the death penalty,” he said.

Albayalde’s suggestion comes days after the Armed Forces of the Philippines reported there are seven foreign terrorists believed to be “embedded” into local terror groups in Western Mindanao.

READ: AFP: 7 foreign terrorists training future suicide bombers in Mindanao

He earlier said the PNP has yet to confirm this information.

“As of now we just do intelligence gathering. What is really important here is that we strengthen our intelligence capabilities against these foreign terrorists,” he said.

Last June 28, seven were killed and 22 others were injured in suicide bombings at a military camp in Indanan, Sulu.

One of the two suspected bombers, Norman Lasuca was confirmed to be the first Filipino who carried out a suicide attack in the country.

Albayalde said he is for the death penalty through lethal injection. /gsg

READ: PNP chief: Death penalty via lethal injection is enough