Davide ok with curfew, liquor ban

CEBU, Philippines - Re-elected Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III agrees with the plan of presumptive President Rodrigo Duterte to ban liquor and impose a curfew but said he does not support the death penalty.

The death penalty was abolished during the presidency of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2006. Duterte, however, declared in a press conference that he would bring the penalty back, this time, “by means of hanging.”

"I don't think it's a deterrent to crime. There are some other ways to deter crime but definitely not death penalty," Davide said yesterday.

As someone who grew up during Martial Law, Davide believes the curfew imposed at that time was justifiable and Duterte must have enough reason to put one in place this time.

"Kasagarang na-involve ang mga kabataan… I think there's wisdom in that (curfew),” he said, adding, "There are city and even municipal ordinances that impose curfew sa mga residents."

"Ang consideration are ang peace, order ug welfare sa mga youth," Davide said.

Duterte wants the curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Duterte’s spokesperson, Peter Lavina, said in earlier reports that Duterte plans to replicate in the entire country a city ordinance in Davao that prohibits the sale of alcoholic beverages from 1a.m. to 6 a.m.

"Maybe he's comparing the situation sa Davao City with what he's been implementing kung ma-apply ba," Davide said.

Meanwhile, Davide said he has no problems with the offer of Cebu City Mayor-elect Tomas Osmeña for a P50,000 reward to policemen who can kill drug lords or criminals in “legal line of duty.”

“If the killing is justified, like self-defense, for instance. But it depends on the circumstance,” Davide said. — (FREEMAN)