Ramos wants trials sped up

Ramos wants trials sped up

MANILA (AFP): Philippine President Fidel Ramos has asked the Supreme Court to speed up trials and sentencing to deter criminals, the presidential palace said yesterday.

"Early resolution of these cases, especially those involving death sentences, will show to our people clearly that crime does not pay," a palace statement quoted Ramos as saying.

At least 57 people have been sentenced to death by lower courts since 1994, when a new law mandated the death penalty for kidnapping, drug dealing, and several other crimes.

However, no one has so far been executed as death row convicts get an automatic appeal to the Supreme Court, where cases remain mired for months.

Ramos' statement came after the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the country's main business group, said "the twin problems of kidnappings and bank robberies remain unabated."