President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will continue to play a "hands-on" role insofar as the government’s campaign to rid the country of criminals and terrorists is concerned.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye today stressed this, as he noted serious efforts being made by the military and the police along the lines of preserving the peace and maintaining order nationwide.

In a radio interview, Bunye said it was the President’s style to be on top of the peace and order campaign.

"Gusto niyang ipakita na talagang seryoso siya sa kanyang binitiwang pangako sa State of the Nation Address na isa sa pangunahing pagbibigyang pansin ay ‘yung anti-criminality campaign (The President wants to show that she is serious in carrying out an effective anti-criminality campaign, as she announced in her July 2002 SONA)," he said.

The campaign includes all forms of smuggling, which is not an ordinary crime, but economic sabotage, he added.

The President has placed great emphasis on weeding out syndicates involved in smuggling, he said.

As this developed, the Bureau of Customs (BoC) is set to file today criminal charges against four persons involved in smuggling some 35,000 bags of rice at the Port of Tabaco in Albay on September 23 last year.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today announced that the Bureau of Customs is filing criminal charges against four individuals suspected of smuggling 35,000 bags of rice in the port of Tabaco, Albay.

The Chief Executive made the announcement at the Department of Justice (DOJ) in the presence of Customs Commissioner Antonio Bernardo, Justice Secretary Hernando Perez, Philippine National Police chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane and other officials.

In a complaint-affidavit executed by Clemente P. Heraldo and Leonito A. Santiago, chief and special investigator respectively of the Bureau of Customs, the following were charged with smuggling and falsification of public documents: Antonio Chua, Jr. of Tabaco, Albay; Carlos Carillo, also of Tabaco, Albay; Pierre "Peter" N. Toundjis, president of El Greco Ship Manning and Management Corporation; and Yushawu Awuda, a Ghanian national and ship captain of the vessel "M/V Neptune Breeze."

The President also ordered Secretary Perez to file charges against Judge Arnulfo Cabredo for issuing a temporary restraining order (TRO) that prevented the Bureau of Customs from detaining the rice shipment.

She likewise asked the DOJ to file charges against other erring judges, particularly those involved in criminal activities such as the one in Subic in Zambales, and in Pasig.

Records of the Bureau of the Customs showed that on Sept. 23, 2001, a vessel, the "M/V Criston," loaded with 35,000 sacks of suspected smuggled rice, docked at the port of Tabaco.

On the same date, the Deputy Collector of the said port issued a warrant of seizure and detention against the vessel and its cargo of 35,000 bags of rice.

However, before the Bureau of Customs could actually take custody of the said rice shipment, Judge Arnulfo B. Cabredo of the Regional Trial Court of Tabaco, Albay, upon petition of the consignees, Antonio Chua and Carlos Carillo, issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) restraining the Bureau of Customs from detaining the shipment.

On Nov. 7, 2001, at the height of typhoon "Nanang," and despite the existence of a warrant of seizure and detention, the vessel "M/V Criston" left without proper clearances from the said port.

Records also showed that on Nov. 17, 2001, a vessel bearing the name "M/V Neptune Breeze" was spotted at the port of Mariveles, Bataan. Acting on the request of the Bureau of Customs, the Philippine Coast Guard apprehended and detained the vessel at the said port on the ground that the "M/V Neptune Breeze" was the same vessel "M/V Criston" that escaped from the port of Tabaco on Nov. 7, 2001.

As a result, a seizure case was instituted at the Port of Manila, to determine the persons liable for the unlawful act. During the proceedings, El Greco Ship Manning and Management Corporation, through its president, Peter Toundjis, appeared and presented itself as the operator of the "M/V Neptune Breeze."

During the hearing of the seizure case, the Bureau of Customs established that the rice cargo of the "M/V Criston" was brought to the port of Tabaco without the necessary import documents.

The documents presented, the BOC said, were all spurious, making it appear that the rice cargo was locally sourced and not imported.

According to the BOC, Chua and Carillo, being the consignees of the shipment, are responsible for the unlawful importation of rice.

On the other hand, the culpability of Toundjis, president of El Greco, is apparent from his act of presenting a spurious fixture note embodying a purported contract between the "M/V Neptune Breeze" and Orica Explosives to make it appear that the vessel "M/V Neptune Breeze" is not the "M/V Criston."

The captain of the vessel "M/V Criston," Yushawu Awuda, was also recommended to be criminally charged because of his act of presenting spurious documents to mislead the proper authorities in determining the port of origin of the shipment.

STA. CRUZ, Laguna—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today called on the country’s barangay officials to rally behind her administration’s stepped-up war against all forms of criminality.

In her speech at the mass oath taking of newly elected barangay officials of Laguna, the President said that in the fight against criminality, she would be depending not only on the military and the police but also on the local executives, particularly the barangay officials.

"Kaya ako narito hindi lamang para batiin kayo at gawin ang inyong panunumpa, kung hindi na rin para i-recruit na nga kayo dito sa ating giyera kontra sa katiwalian, kontra sa kriminalidad (That is why I am here not only to administer your oaths but also to recruit you in our battle against corruption, against criminality)," the President said.

The President said that the war against poverty can not be won for as long as there is rampant corruption and criminality in our society.

The President also stressed the underlying theme of her State of the Nation Address (SONA), which is an all-out war against criminality.

During the occasion, the President also announced that she had signed an executive order providing death benefits to all barangay officials.

But the President added that she hoped the barangay officials would not avail themselves of the death benefits because she wanted them to live for a long time.

According to the President, she had cited in her second SONA two prerequisites in the building of a strong republic.

One of these prerequisites, the President said, is that the people should not be used as an instrument of the powerful but of the poor.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today welcomed back to the folds of the law 27 former members of the communist New People’s Army (NPA), who she said should start a new life under a Strong Republic.

In a speech during the mass oath-taking of newly-elected barangay officials at the San Luis gymnasium in Sta, Cruz, Laguna, the President said her government intended to eliminate poverty within the decade to stop people from believing in twisted ideologies and seeking refuge in mountains and hills.

She said the government has been seriously involved in an all-out no-nonsense war against criminality and terrorism. "Basta’t terorista, ginigiyera natin ‘yun (We will wage war against terrorists)," she added.

She noted that poverty could have driven people to go to the hills and believe in philosophies meant to destroy democratic institutions.

But "wini-welcome naman natin kung sila ay bumabalik (we welcome those who return to government)," she said.

The President said the rebel returnees would be given enough funds to start with a livelihood project. She led officials in awarding livelihood checks to the rebel returnees.

She also asked Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina, Jr. to brief Laguna’s newly-elected village leaders on how to dissuade people from joining rebel movements.

She urged the barangay leaders to practice good governance and bring themselves and their services to the heart of their villages.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today lauded the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Videogram Regulatory Board (VRB) for the arrest of several suspected criminals operating in Metro Manila.

The President also extolled the concerned citizens who gave the police and law enforcement agencies vital information that led to the arrest of these suspects under the National Capital Regional Police Office’s (NCRPO) Magic Eye Program which encourages the public to report not only criminals but also abusive policemen.

"The partnership between the police and the citizenry is the strongest defense we have against criminals. Working together against crime, we build our strong Republic," the Chief Executive said as she presented to the media this morning at the DOJ five members of the Honda robbery-holdup gang and two big-time suspected carnappers as well as other criminal suspects operating in the Binondo area in Manila.

"You can see that with every arrest, we show how strong our resolve is to put every criminal behind bars. And with every arrest, we see how citizen cooperation contributes to positive police action," the President stressed.

The President announced that over the weekend the PNP-NCRPO arrested five members of the Honda robbery-holdup gang linked to at least 45 heists on jewelry shops and restaurants in the metropolis.

According to the President, the information leading to the arrest of the five Honda gang members came from a concerned citizen.

The arrested members of the Honda gang were identified as Reynante Salvacion, alias "Rene," 23, a high school student of No. 611 San Nicolas St., Barangay San Nicolas, Gaudalupe, Makati City; Gino Mahinay, alias "Dodong," 32, a taxi driver, of No. 6 Ferdinand St., Vista Verde, Cainta, Rizal; Emerito Lague, alias "Bong," 34, a seaman, of Pre Fad Guadalupe, Makati City; Dexter Saren, alias "Dex," 29, a seaman, of No. 19 Rose St., Kingstown, Caloocan City; and Jay Canlas, alias "Jon-Jon," of Blumentritt St., Sta. Cruz, Manila.

The NCRPO composite team pounced on the suspects at around 1:10 a.m. at the Mina Balay Bar and Grill Restaurant along V. V. Soliven St., Barangay San Isidro, Cainta, Rizal after a tip-off from a concerned citizen.

According to PNP officials, the tipster learned about the NCRPO "Magic Eye" program and tipped off the robbers to the police. The suspects reportedly met at the restaurant after committing a robbery.

Police operatives seized four .38 caliber revolvers and a black bag containing eight car license plates (WRT-639; USW-149; WKP-145; UJH-685; WAR-753; UFY-585; UKV-824; and WJZ-753), assorted pieces of jewelry, two M-16 armalite rifles, a maroon ballcap, two bonnets, several tools consisting of pliers, screwdrivers, and wrenches, a cash box with vouchers of Macro International, and ammunition. Also seized were a maroon Honda Civic (UJD-796), a green Revo (WTB-823), and a Nissan taxi (PXK-189).

The five Honda gang members are detained at the San Juan Station Investigation Division pending the filing of several counts of robbery in band against them.

The President also presented to the media two suspected members of big-time carnappers "who were caught in the act of sniffing shabu."

She pointed out that the two suspects, identified as Victor John Ignacio, alias "Kokoy" and "VJ," 27, jobless of No. 421 Mayfair St., Montevista Subdivision, Barangay Sto. Nino, Cainta, Rizal; and Raymundo Bautista, 25, jobless, of No. 463 Tenement, Taguig, Metro Manila, carnapped at least 20 cars since 1999.

Police operations conducted by the teams, armed with a warrant of arrest for carnapping (Criminal case nos. 00-1417 and 00-1418) issued by Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 66 Judge Ricardo Rosario against Ignacio, pounced on the suspects at around 9:10 p.m. Saturday in Barangay Sto. Nino, Cainta, Rizal. The operatives arrested Ignacio and Bautista while they were engaged in a shabu session.

The President lauded the efforts of newly-appointed Senior Superintendent Pedro Bulaong, Western Police District Director, for arresting criminals operating in the Binondo area, including the holdup- robbery at the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) in the area.

She also mentioned the operations conducted by VRB chairman Ramon "Bong" Revilla, Jr. on fake cassette disks (CD).

Revilla, according to the President, is now concentrating the VRB’s efforts on the manufacturers of the fake CDs.

STA. CRUZ, Laguna – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today officially led the nationwide launching of the Gabay ng Mamamayan Action (GMA) Center which will be established in all barangays in the country to provide the people with direct access to information and referral systems, particularly on basic services, from the national government.

In her speech before some 10,500 newly-elected barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials held at the San Luis Sports Complex here, the President announced that the GMA Center will focus on direct government help in the barangay level.

The President also said the GMA Center would provide information and assistance on investment and job placement, livelihood, peace and order, health and sanitation and social welfare services, infrastructure, sports development and disaster preparedness.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina, Jr. said the establishment of the GMA Center is the acknowledgement of the barangay’s significant role and in support of the SONA targets of the President and the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

He said the GMA Center project is expected to bring the government’s programs and services closer to the grassroot level.

The GMA Center shall have as members the Barangay Council, the Barangay Secretary and Treasurer, and other lay community leaders who will man the center as Action Officers for every major concern. The Punong Barangay shall be the head of the center.

The President also administered the oath of office to some 10,500 newly-elected Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials from 28 towns and two cities (Calamba and San Pablo) in Laguna.

CALAMBA, Laguna – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today opened to vehicular traffic the newly renovated San Cristobal Bridge along the Manila South Road here.

Prior to her arrival, the President together -- with Laguna Governor Teresita Lazaro, Vice Governor Dan Fernandez, Calamba City Mayor Severino Lajara and Laguna 2^nd District Representative Joaquin Chipeco, Jr. -- received a briefing on the construction of the P53.5-million bridge by Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Teodoro Encarnacion.

After the project briefing, the President rode in a mini-truck for the inaugural drive-thru at the 73-linear meter four-lane bridge. She was assisted by Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina, Jr., Encarnacion, Governor Lazaro, Mayor Lajara and Chipeco.

Because of typhoons Reming and Senyang in November 1999, the bridge was damaged. Its substructures sustained massive erosion and scouring on the foundation.

The Department of Public Works and Highways ordered the permanent closure of the bridge and opted for its immediate replacement.

The old bridge was a two-lane structure built in 1948. It served as a major connection between Manila and Laguna, linking several provinces such as Batangas, Quezon and the Bicol Region.