PHILIPPINES

a judge on the central island of Bohol sentenced 12 [unidentified] members of a kidnapping gang to death by lethal injection, after finding the 12 guilty of kidnapping a Chinese-Filipino businessman for ransom in 1998. It is the biggest group of people condemned to death since the country restored capital punishment in 1994. The Philippines reinstated the death penalty in 1994 in an effort to curb so-called heinous crimes, including kidnapping. Since then, seven of the more than 1,200 people sentenced to death have been executed. In December 2000, former President Joseph Estrada ordered all death sentences affirmed by the Supreme Court to be commuted to life imprisonment. Estrada´s order covered more than 100 condemned criminals. However the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) said that when it tried to secure a copy of the President’s order, it was informed by officials at the Presidential Palace that such an order was “not available” and even if it were FLAG would not be given a copy.