President Gloria Arroyo granted a 90-day reprieve to 18 death row inmates

President Gloria Arroyo granted a 90-day reprieve to 18 death row inmates in the Philippines, according to government documents obtained by the media. Signed copies of Arroyo's order to the justice department said the convicts were to have been executed in January. The dates for their executions had now been moved to May. The documents did not indicate the crimes for which the convicts were jailed. 
The reprieve gave lawyers for the convicts more time to review their cases, with the possibility that the cases may be returned to court and the death sentences commuted.