President-elect of Philippines plans swift changes

MANILA — Presumptive Philippine President-elect Rodrigo Duterte said Monday he will reimpose the death penalty, offer Cabinet posts to communist rebels, and move to amend the Constitution to give more power to the provinces, in some of his first policy pronouncements since winning last week’s election based on an unofficial count.

The announcements, a sharp departure from current government policy, reflect his brash campaign pledge to end crime and corruption in the impoverished nation in three to six months.

Duterte said he would probably offer the Cabinet posts of environment and natural resources, agrarian reform, social welfare and labor to the communist rebels.

Duterte said he would ask Congress to reimpose the death penalty, which has been suspended since 2006 in the face of staunch opposition from the dominant Roman Catholic Church.

Commission on Human Rights Chairman Chito Gascon said his agency opposes the death penalty and would block any attempt to reimpose it, adding that the Constitution forbids cruel and degrading punishments like hanging.

TV network ABS-CBN also quoted him as telling reporters in Davao late Sunday that he plans to ban the use of luxury cars among his Cabinet members and will use his personal pickup truck as his official presidential vehicle.