Estrada dubs body to study death law

Estrada dubs body to study death law

MANILA (AP): Philippine President Joseph Estrada said on Wednesday that he named members of a committee to review death sentences affirmed by the Supreme Court.

Estrada said the "conscience committee" will review cases of convicts scheduled for execution and "endorse" actions to be taken by the president.

The committee will be headed by presidential Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora. Its members include Carina Agarao, head of the Crusade Against Violence; psychologist Violeta Villaroman- Bautista; political scientist Grace Jamon; and Roman Catholic Bishop Francisco San Diego.

Estrada has said he will suspend all executions until the committee was formed.

About 1,200 people have been sentenced to death by injection under a law that restored the death penalty for "heinous" crimes in 1994.