Manila (AsiaNews/Agencies) – At Easter, President, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, announced the commutation to life imprisonment of around 1,200 death sentences in the Philippines. The Catholic Church and anti-death penalty campaigners have enthusiastically hailed her decision, but there are concerns that victims' relatives may seek revenge against the pardoned perpetrators.

Arroyo's spokesman, Ignacio Bunye, said her decision had "developed" from "contemplation and reflection on Christian values". He added: "We understand the deep hurt inflicted upon the families of the victims of heinous crimes, but the president believes that learning to forgive without compromising criminal justice would be a good start for the nation to move on."

Dante Jimenez, head of the Volunteers against Crime and Corruption, said relatives of some victims vowed to find ways "to have those who committed heinous crimes against their loved ones killed in prison".

There are 1,200 inmates on death row in the country, including at least 11 terrorists linked to Al-Qaeda. Fr Roberto Olaguer, prison chaplain, said 100 inmates may have faced imminent execution, although there have been no executions since 2000. Many were sentenced for kidnapping, murder and drug trafficking.

The Catholic Church is for the presidential decision; it calls for the total repeal of capital punishment, a decision up to Congress.

"Our prayer is that it will not only be a presidential humanitarian act, but that Congress itself would abolish capital punishment by legislative act," said Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP). The bishops have often said capital punishment is no deterrent against crime; they maintain the problem should be addressed by tackling widespread "poverty, immorality and corruption".
"We believe we should find another way of defending society that will obviate the need for the death penalty, which only brings out the worst in us all," said Mgr Pedro Arrigo, chairman of the CBCP Commission of the Prison Pastoral Care. As Christians, he added, "we are convinced lawbreakers should be given a chance to repent, change their lives, their attitudes and truly atone for their actions."