Arroyo defends decision to commute death penalties

Inmates share a cell at a jail facility in Manila yesterday. Anti-crime groups and families of victims of heinous crimes criticized Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's order issued over the weekend to commute death sentences of convicted criminals to life imprisonment, claiming that the move would only encourage more criminal activity. Arroyo's order will affect standing death sentences of more than 1,000 convicts on death row. PHOTO: EPA

The Philippine president yesterday defended a decision to commute death sentences as religiously inspired, while an anti-crime activist warned that outraged victims' families may attempt to take revenge against inmates whose lives will be spared.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's Easter announcement was applauded by the powerful Roman Catholic church and anti-death penalty crusaders, but her spokesman, Ignacio Bunye, said "the president was not seeking nor did she expect any political returns from her decision."

The decision "came after deep contemplation and reflection in the field of Christian values," Bunye said in a statement. "We understand the deep hurt inflicted upon the families of the victims of heinous crimes, but the president believes that learning to forgive without compromising criminal justice would be a good start for the nation to move on."

The move may save the lives of about 1,200 death convicts, including at least 11 al-Qaeda-linked militants, although prison chaplain Monsignor Roberto Olaguer said only about 100 whose sentences were affirmed by the Supreme Court will be affected immediately. The rest will have to wait until the court upholds their death sentences, he said.

"They're rejoicing. They're thankful to the president because they'll have a longer life," Olaguer said.

Arroyo's move, however, sent shockwaves through citizens' anti-crime groups, worried it will embolden criminals amid a resurgence in kidnappings. Most death row inmates have been convicted of kidnapping, rape, murder and drug trafficking.

Dante Jimenez, head of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption, said he had received phone calls from two families of victims who told him they would "just find a way to have those who committed heinous crimes against their loved ones killed in prison."

He didn't provide details.

"That's the implication. It will become a tooth for a tooth. It's saddening if victims will be victimized again because of this sweeping ... commutations," he said.

No execution has taken place since 2000 in the predominantly Catholic Philippines.

Arroyo's decision does not abolish the death penalty, which would require approval by Congress.