News24

PHILIPPINES: Executions 'an act of love'

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said on Tuesday her decision not to stay the executions of 2 convicted kidnappers, scheduled for later in the month, was "an act of love".

Arroyo, a devout Catholic who earlier professed opposition to the death penalty, last month lifted a 4-year moratorium on judicial executions, following an upsurge in heinous crimes, particularly kidnapping and drug-trafficking.

She stressed that the new wave of crimes, especially kidnappings, has scared off potential investors, denying employment to millions of jobless Filipinos.

"This (execution) is an act of love to those who are still looking for jobs," she said shortly after attending a mass to commemorate the military-backed mass-uprising that catapulted her to power 3 years ago.

"If we want to generate more jobs, investors should be not be scared of being kidnapped," she added.

Arroyo earlier said the only thing that could stop the executions would be an intervention by the Supreme Court. The Court has yet to decide on an appeal by government lawyers to re-open the case of the convicted kidnappers, due to new evidence.

Arroyo earlier rejected a meeting with European Union diplomats who expressed their opposition to the resumption of the judicial executions.

The death penalty was abolished in the Philippines in 1987, but was reimposed in 1994.