The BBC's Cindi John: Last ditch effort to call off execution

Leo Echegaray, a painter and decorator, is to be put to death by lethal injection on Monday for repeatedly raping the 10-year-old step-daughter.

John McLean: "The president described Echegaray as bestial"

Roadblocks and extra guards were deployed on Sunday as groups opposing the execution are expected to protest until the last minute.

Echegaray's lawyer has asked for a stay of execution while Congress conducts a review of the death penalty.

Leo Echegaray: faces the first execution in 23 years

Only an eleventh hour stay of execution from the Supreme Court or clemency from President Joseph Estrada will stop the execution.

The court is holding a special session to decide whether the execution should go ahead.

Appeals rejected

This will be the first execution of a convicted criminal since the overthrow of the regime of President Ferdinand Marcos in 1986.

President Estrada: Rejected appeals to commute sentence

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

But the Philippines is one of a handful of countries which abolished and then restored the death penalty.

On Saturday, President Estrada rejected appeals from human rights activists, the Pope, the European Union, Canada and Mr Ecehgaray to commute the death sentence.

In doing so, the president described Mr Echegaray as bestial - a sentiment that appears to reflect popular approval of the resumption of executions.

Capital punishment restored

Rory Mungovern, of Amnesty International: "The Philippines is running against the world tide"

Capital punishment was reintroduced five years ago - for murder, rape, kidnapping and drug trafficking - in response to a rising tide of violent crime.

Amnesty International's Asia Pacific Director, Rory Mungovern, says the Philippines is moving against the worldwide trend which has seen the death penalty being discontinued in countries such as Russia.

If the execution goes ahead, the lethal injection chamber is expected to become a busy place over the coming months.

There are now more than 800 people on death row awaiting the outcome of Supreme Court reviews of their cases.

Popular debate

The pending execution has set off a debate among many Filipinos over the death penalty.

Lethal inections could be on the increase

Leading the campaign against the death penalty is the Roman Catholic church - which most Filipinos say they belong to.

One of the church's complaints is that the vast majority of those sentenced to death are too poor to afford an adequate defence.

On Sunday, several Manila radio stations opened their telephone lines so listeners could express their views on capital punishment.