There is an even chance that President Arroyo will...

There is an even chance that President Arroyo will spare the life of convicted rapist Alfredo Nardo, who is scheduled to die by lethal injection on Oct. 16, Justice Secretary Hernando Perez said.This marks a softening of her stance not to grant reprieves to convicts scheduled for execution. But that's because the doomed man is a rapist and not a kidnapper or drug lord."I'm not saying the President would do it, but it's a possibility," Perez said, explaining that the hard line on carrying out the death penalty was directed at kidnappers and drug traffickers.Perez said of the 17 convicts awaiting execution on death row, only two-Roberto Lara and Roderick Licayan-were charged with kidnapping for ransom, and one Reynaldo Morial, was sentenced to death for robbery-homicide.The rest, 14 of them, have been convicted of rape. They are Nardo, Rolando Pagdayawon, Reynaldo Rebato, Alejandro Gunatang, Juan Manalo, Ramshad Thamsey, Ramil Velez-Rayos, Nonelito Abenion, Roberto Palero, Castro Geraban, Alejo Miasco, Sandy Hinto, Ireneo Padilla and Pablo Santos.Perez said the court could even schedule the execution of Pagdayawon ahead of Nardo's because his death sentence was affirmed by the Supreme Court in March 2001, a month ahead of the latter's."It is possible the trial court will schedule another execution before October," Perez said.