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."