An appeal from Pope John Paul II would not stop the...

An appeal from Pope John Paul II would not stop the Philippine government from carrying out the scheduled execution of two convicts this month, President Gloria Arroyo's spokesman, Ignacio Bunye, said. Lifting a moratorium on capital punishment to allow the execution of convicted rapists Roberto Lara and Roderick Licayan on January 30 would ensure "just retribution" for their victims, Bunye said. He said that as a devout Catholic, Arroyo was against capital punishment, but "for the sake of the higher national interest, she is willing to make an exception."