THE PHILIPPINES. SPAIN THANKS ARROYO FOR SAVING CITIZEN ON DEATH ROW

the Government of Spain thanked the Philippines, particularly President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, for saving Francisco Javier Larrañaga Gonzales, also known as Paco Larrañaga, a dual citizen, from death row, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.
In his report to the home office, Philippine Ambassador to Madrid Joseph Bernardo said Spain expressed “its most sincere gratitude to the Philippine government, particularly to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo” for commuting the death penalty of Larrañaga, who was among several convicted in the kidnap-rape slay of Marijoy Chiong in Cebu province. He was also meted life imprisonment for the kidnap and serious illegal detention of Jacqueline Chiong, whose body had not been found.