World IN BRIEF : PHILIPPINES : Senate Votes to Bring Back Death Penalty

The Philippine Senate voted to restore the death penalty and, for the first time, prescribed it for officials who take bribes or steal public money. President Fidel Ramos has backed the bill, saying he needed it to combat crime syndicates, especially those protected by soldiers and police officers, and to stamp out corruption in government. The Senate measure also calls for the death sentence for murderers, drug traffickers, kidnapers, rapists and arsonists. The House has passed its own measure, which must be reconciled with the Senate version. The Philippines abolished the death penalty in 1987.