Arroyo lifts halt on death penalty

Arroyo lifts halt on death penalty

PHILIPPINES: President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said in Manila on
Thursday that she had lifted a moratorium on the death penalty
and the government will resume carrying out capital punishment
first on kidnappers.

In a nationally televised news conference, Arroyo said
criminals have been emboldened since she suspended the death
penalty after she took office in January and kidnappers have
instilled fear among the business community.

She said she ordered the Justice Department "to study how the
cases against kidnappers could be sped up so that they could be
executed as soon as possible."

Arroyo met Filipino-Chinese business groups early this week,
promising to get tough on crime. --AP