950806

Death for

paedophiles

urged in

Philippines

MANILA: A government panel has called for the death penalty for paedophiles in the Philippines, saying they were "abominable" people.

Justice Secretary Teofisto Guingona said on Saturday a committee of cabinet ministers, which he heads, had recommended to President Fidel Ramos that the death penalty be used to save the country's children from what he called sex perverts.

Ramos formed the committee to curb what officials said was a mounting number of cases of child abuse, mostly perpetrated by foreigners coming to the country as tourists.

"These types of crime should be included in the Heinous Crime law to rid our society of abominable individuals...(and) protect Filipino children," Guingona told reporters.

The Philippines revived the death penalty last year through a law imposing capital punishment for so-called "heinous crimes" such as rape, kidnapping for ransom and drug trafficking.

Paedophiles face 20 years in jail under current laws.-Reuter