Incoming President Rodrigo Duterte

MANILA - Incoming President Rodrigo Duterte, who is pushing for the revival of death penalty, promised Saturday to hang a man tagged in the rape-slay of a toddler in Davao Oriental if he is proven guilty.

The man was arrested Saturday for allegedly raping and killing a three-year-old girl, who was found dead some 200 meters away from her house in Barangay Puntalinao, Banaybanay town last Friday.

Authorities suspect the child was raped because she was found half-naked and bore a large wound on her genitals.

The 51-year-old suspect is a neighbor and church mate of the victim's family.

The family of the child has since appealed to Duterte to push for the revival of death penalty.

Speaking to reporters in Davao City, Duterte said he does not want to interfere with police investigation on the crime. "It's a layered authority... Hindi ko overtake-an iyan."

But, he guaranteed that if proven guilty, he would endorse the suspect's execution by hanging.

"Gusto niyo kapag ma-implement iyan, hanap ako ng media, for show lang. Matingnan lang natin iyung effect kung paano mamatay ang tao sa hanging," Duterte said.



(READ: Duterte vows hangings in war on crime)

Police continue investigating the child's death while the local government has offered P100,000 reward money for anyone who can give information on the crime. -- With reports from Ara Casas and Rodirey Salas, ABS-CBN News