The Philippines is preparing for its first execution in twenty three years with increased security at the prison where a convicted rapist is due to die by lethal injection on Monday.

Only an eleventh hour stay of execution from the Supreme Court or clemency from President Joseph Estrada will stop the rapist, Leo Echegaray, being executed.

He was convicted in 1994 of repeatedly raping his ten year old step-daughter.

On Saturday, President Estrada again rejected appeals by human rights activists and the Roman Catholic church to commute the death sentence.

The last execution was in 1976 before the death penalty was abolished in 1987.

Capital punishment was restored five years ago to help deter a growing crime rate.

There are currently more than eight hundred people on death row awaiting the outcome of Supreme Court reviews of their cases.