Duterte wants public hanging for Nobleza

MANILA, Philippines -  For aiding the terrorist Abu Sayyaf group, President Duterte wants sacked Superintendent Maria Cristina Nobleza hanged in public along with other traitors in government. 

Duterte said investigators have uncovered the money trail from abroad to Nobleza, whom the Chief Executive believes played a major role in the operations of the Abu Sayyaf prior to her arrest in Bohol last April.

Nobleza, a former deputy director of the Philippine National Police crime laboratory in Davao, was arrested along with her alleged lover Abu Sayyaf bomber Reenor Lou Dungon. 

“The name of that woman, Nobleza, always crops up. The cop was a recipient of huge cash from a group that is part of the terror groups fighting in the Middle East. She is really the lady that is a traitor to her country,” Duterte said in a press briefing after visiting wounded soldiers at Camp Evangelista hospital in Cagayan de Oro last Saturday.

If he would have his way, Duterte would want to hang Nobleza for everyone to see.

“I will not hesitate to do it if it comes to that. I will hang every traitor in the government,” the President said. 

As martial law continues to be imposed in all of Mindanao, Duterte said he wants the Armed Forces to take a lead role in destroying the finance apparatus of the terror groups Abu Sayyaf and Maute. 

Duterte said the Mautes that laid siege to Marawi City had connections with Middle East-based groups.

 “The Maute brothers went to the Middle East to study terrorism. When they went back here, they built the biggest (shabu) laboratory and it was really to fund terrorism,” the President said.

He pointed out that freeing Marawi City from the clutches of terrorists could have be done in a day as, being commander-in-chief, he could have easily ordered the military to conduct rampant bombings to flush them out. But then he ordered the forces to minimize the casualties on both soldiers and civilians.

“And that is why we are also suffering great losses,” he lamented. 

Duterte said he already ordered his men to arrest all personalities involved in the illegal drug trade and helping the Maute group.

“In the days ahead we will arrest all of them (starting with the producers and financiers). They will all be arrested, whether politicians or not,” he said.