Executions to continue, Estrada says

The executions will continue.

President Estrada rejected yesterday the death wish of rapist Alex Bartoleme that his execution the other day be the last in this new millennium.

Bartolome, 41, who was convicted of raping his daughter 100 times from 1993 to 1995 in Cagayan de Oro City, asked the President Tuesday to put an end to executions even though the Chief Executive had denied his earlier plea for pardon.

"Don't blame me for this," the President said, referring to Bartolome's execution by lethal injection, considered the first in the world this year. "As President, I cannot violate the laws," he stressed.

Mr. Estrada explained that unless Congress repeals the Death Penalty Law, all 56 death row inmates whose sentences have been affirmed by the Supreme Court must have to be executed.

"We are just following what the law says," Mr. Estrada said. "As President, I must enforce the laws. If Congress amends this, well and good, we will follow and remove the death penalty."

The President noted that he did not pardon Bartolome because the five-man Conscience Committee he created to review cases of death convicts recommended no pardon or reprieve for the rapist.

The committee, headed by Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora, has a priest as a member.

"It was the decision of the Conscience Committee and they explained to me that Bartolome really does not deserve reprieve or commutation because what he had done was very grave," the President said.

"He was not a good example because rape cases continue to rise and therefore we should give a lesson to those who plan to rape their own daughters," he added.

Bartolome's execution was the seventh in the country since the death penalty was reimposed in 1994.

State-sanctioned killings were outlawed in the country in 1986 after the ouster of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos but they were restored by Congress in response to a spate of heinous crimes.

Last February, the country began anew to execute criminals, starting with Leo Echegaray who raped his stepdaughter, a minor.

The other day, administration lawmaker Rep. Roan Libarios said it was about time to reconsider the imposition of the death penalty since about four or five convicts would be executed every month if all 56 affirmed death sentences are carried out this year.

Libarios filed a bill that would reduce the punishment of those found guilty of heinous crimes to a maximum of 40 years in prison or until they reach the age of 70, whichever comes first.

Yesterday, Libarios said that the recent acquittal by the Supreme Court of a British national who was sentenced to death for rape was an "ominous sign" that more acquittals are coming.

He said Albert Wilson, who was convicted in 1998 for rape, was the 24th death row inmate and 11th convicted rapist to be acquitted by the High Tribunal.

"Wilson's acquittal could be ominous. Faced with the horrible prospect of putting a human being to death, it is very possible that our justices are demanding stronger evidence of guilt and rightly so to uphold a death verdict handed down by a lower court," he said.

The President, however, said the death penalty was deliberated thoroughly by the previous Congress before it decided to reimpose it. "So perhaps it cannot be said that the death penalty is not effective, otherwise Congress should have repealed it," he said.

Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora, who chairs the Conscience Committee, said Malacañang has already taken cognizance of the moves in Congress for a possible review of the Death Penalty Law.

Aside from Libarios' proposal, others pending in Congress include a resolution submitted by Sen. Aquilino Pimentel calling for a suspension of executions pending a review of the Death Penalty Law.