At least 11 al-Qaida linked convicts were among those whose sentences were lifted by the beleagured Macapagal.
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo with husband Jose Miguel Arroyo, left, and Supreme Court Justice Reynato Puno, during funeral services for Puno's late wife on Sunday. Malacanang Palace photo from AP and Yahoo News.
The death penalty is strongly opposed by the country's Roman Catholic Church, which lately has not been strongly supportive of the president. Indeed many bishops have been among her harshest critics.
No executions have been carried out in the country since 2000.
While the move may have helped her with some Catholic leaders, victims rights groups were incensed by the announcement.
Macapagal's recent declaration of a state of emergency to put down a purported coup attempt has been widely criticized by her opponents and in the press.
Calls for her resignation have increased since allegations of corruption in the last election. Macapagal, however, has said she is determined to finish her term and to lead the nation's switch to a parliamentary form of government.
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