Legislators greeted President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's...

Legislators greeted President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's call for the execution of convicted kidnappers with mixed reactions.
At the House of Representatives, Akbayan Rep. Loretta Ann P. Rosales urged Macapagal-Arroyo to reconsider her decision to allow the resumption of executions of convicted kidnappers. She told a press conference the government should instead come up with a new strategy in the fight against kidnapping, noting that the recent spate of kidnappings and the negative effect on the Chinese-Filipino community do not justify the resumption of executions. Crime statistics from the Philippine National Police (PNP), she said, show 71,527 crimes in 1998, a year marked by no executions. In 1999, however, there were 82,538 crimes despite a series of executions. She said the President's policy shift may be misinterpreted by law enforcement agents to mean they now have a "license to kill" suspected kidnappers.
At the Senate, Senator Rodolfo G. Biazon said the President went beyond her powers when she "amended" the law. "It reinforces the feeling that the President is indeed encroaching on the legislative powers of Congress by effectively amending the law by way of selecting which crime merits the imposition of the death penalty," he declared.
Other senators were supportive.
Senator Ralph Recto, in a statement, said that it was "the right cure to an epidemic" adding "When we froze the executions, we breathed life to criminals."
Senator Ramon B. Magsaysay, Jr. said the President's move was her prerogative."There are certain levels where there is executive prerogative. I'm sure that this was cleared by her legal advisers and the Department of Justice." Notwithstanding the President's call, executions of convicted felons are expected to resume only late in 2002, sources at the Department of Justice said.
Supreme Court records show it has upheld the death sentences of at least eight convicts, but six of these were commuted by then president Joseph Estrada. This leaves only two, Roderick Licayan and Robert Lara, whose death sentences on kidnapping-for-ransom charges were affirmed with finality by the Supreme Court on October 9.
The law, however, provides that a convict's execution should be carried out not earlier than one year but not later than 18 months after his sentence has been upheld with finality by the Supreme Court.
Given the President's announcement regarding convicted kidnappers, Justice Secretary Hernando Perez said he will recommend that death sentences for drug traffickers also be upheld.