President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today warned anew people who use the name of any member of her family or the Office of the President in the pursuit of illegal activities, saying that they will be prosecuted with the full force of the law.

In her regular radio address this morning, the President noted the recent arrest by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) of a poseur who claimed that he was connected with the Office of the President.

According to the NBI, the suspect claimed that he represents First Gentleman Atty. Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo and that he was in charge of the supposed sale of a government property in Tokyo.

The President said she was thankful that somebody reported the incident to her and the man was immediately arrested by the NBI.

"Let this be a firm warning to anyone using the name of my family and my office to get away with wrongdoings. We will prosecute such name-droppers and influence peddlers in full measure," the President said.

On Wednesday, the NBI charged a certain Anthony Deslate, 38, with usurpation of authority for dropping the name of the First Gentleman.

Deslate reportedly tried to solicit P3 million from a Japanese trader by passing himself as a presidential adviser authorized to sell a government land in Tokyo.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today cited the significant role of civilians in foiling the attack of the New People’s Army (NPA), the armed component of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), at the Pagbilao Power plant in Pagbilao, Quezon last week.

Residents of Kanlurang Mabolo in Pagbilao, led by their barangay captain, has informed the military about the movements of the NPA which led to the terrorists’ defeat in an encounter last Saturday.

"Salamat na lamang sa tulong ng mga mamamayan sa Pagbilao ay naagapan ito at natalo iyong mga NPA sa encounter (I thank the people of Pagbilao. With their help, the military was able to trounce the NPA in the encounter)," the President said in her regular radio address this morning.

The President noted that the government has been warned of fresh attacks by the NPA on public utilities and infrastructure, communication and power lines and transport facilities in its bid to bring down the government.

She said she proceeded to Mauban, Quezon last Monday principally to check on the security arrangements on the town’s power plant.

"Tiniyak ng military at police sa akin nuong nagpunta ako sa power plant ng Mauban na pinuprotektahan nila ito. Gayundin ang mga distribution lines o linyang dinadaluyan ng kuryente (The military and the police have assured me of the security of the plant, as well as their distribution lines)," the President said.

The President said it is important for the public to feel that the government has secured these infrastructures.

"Mahalaga ito para maging palagay ang ating loob at panatag ang ating isipan. Hindi tayo kailanman dapat padala sa pananakot ng mga armadong organisasyon tulad ng NPA (It is important for us to feel secured. We must not allow armed groups like the NPA to sow fear among us)," the President said.

CAVITE CITY - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today visited the family of Joselito Alejo, one of the three overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who were acquitted in a murder case in Saudi Arabia.

The President, who arrived here at around 10 a.m., assured Mrs. Dalisay Alejo, wife of the OFW, of the government’s help for the immediate return of her husband to the country.

The three OFWs were acquitted by the Saudi court last July 22 and are now awaiting clearances from the Saudi government before their repatriation to the Philippines.

During her visit, the President comforted Alejo’s wife and daughter Ann Camille, 13, saying she is glad that Alejo was acquitted from the charges and will soon be reunited with his family.

"At least this is a happy occasion for us," the President told the Alejo family.

In return, Mrs. Alejo thanked the President and the other agencies of the government, particularly the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), for providing her husband with the necessary assistance.

The President likewise directed the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to find ways on how to help Alejo find another overseas employment as soon as he comes back from Saudi Arabia.

According to Mrs. Alejo, her husband has been an OFW since 1980 and has traveled several times to Saudi Arabia.

Records showed that Alejo left the Philippines on March 10, 1997 to work as a trailer driver for Astra Farms in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

On August 10, 1997, Alejo and two other OFWs, namely Romeo Cordova and Ramiro Esmero, were picked up by Saudi authorities for questioning regarding the murder of Saudi policeman.

The three OFWs were detained for almost five years and had spent six months in solitary confinement inside a maximum security prison in Saudi Arabia.

The military, with the assistance of local officials, is now pursuing the members of a bandit group that abducted six innocent civilians in Patikul, Sulu, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said today.

"Kumikilos na ang ating mga sundalo maging ang ating mga local government officials upang tugisin ang mga bandidong may kagagawan nito (Our soldiers as well as local government officials are now working to go after the bandits who are responsible for this crime)," the President said in her weekend radio address aired nationwide this morning.

At the same time, the President called on the public to help her in efforts against crime, terrorism, graft and corruption, which, she said, are holding back the attainment of peace and prosperity for the Filipino citizen.

"Tulungan ninyo akong sugpuin ang krimen, terorismo at katiwalian na maging sagabal para magkaroon ng mapayapa at magandang buhay ang bawa’t Filipino (Help me in the fight against crime, terrorism and corruption, which are a hindrance to peace and good life for every Filipino)," the President said.

The President further enjoined all Filipinos to join her in her efforts to eradicate poverty and bring about good governance.

Defense Secretary Angelo T. Reyes earlier stressed that the military has yet to ascertain the involvement of Muin Sajiron, the prime suspect in the abduction of six individuals in Sulu, to the Abu Sayyaf group.

He said Sajiron, leader of the gang that abducted the six preachers, was not Abu Sayyaf but "a loose cannon" and drug-crazed man who could not be controlled even by his uncle, Abu Sayyaf leader Radulan Sajiron.

Meanwhile, in stressing government efforts against crime and terrorism, the President cited the successful raid of the biggest factory of fake videos and compact discs undertaken by the Crime Investigation and Detection Group Chief Nestorio Gualberto and Video Regulatory Board chairman Ramon "Bong" Revilla, Jr.

"Natutuwa na rin ako na nakapuntos na naman tayo laban sa organized crime (I am happy that we scored anew against organized crime)," the President said. The illegal factory is deemed to be worth P1 billion.

The President also acknowledged the efforts of other law enforcement agencies in the fight against kidnapping, prohibited drugs and carnapping, the latest of which resulted in the capture of a policeman, PO2 Elmer Ramos, who was allegedly involved in carnapping activities in Umingan, Pangasinan.

"Patuloy nating dudurugin ang mga sindikato ng krimen at terorismo. Maliit man o malaki, hindi natin titigilan ang pagtugis sa kanila (We continue to crush these syndicates involved in crime and terrorism. Big or small, we would not stop the war against them)," the President said.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today stressed the need for an honest and efficient collection of taxes, saying the revenue supports government efforts, which include funding for infrastructure, development programs and pro-poor projects.

"Kailangan natin ang matapat at maayos na pagkolekta ng buwis (We need an honest and efficient collection of taxes)," the President said in her radio address aired nationwide this morning.

"Alam naman nating lahat na sa ibinabayad na buwis kinukuha ang perang ginagamit ng gobyerno para sa mga paaralan, kalsada, patubig, rural electrification at iba pang development projects (We all know that it is in the taxes that we pay that the government obtains funding for the construction of schools, roads, irrigation systems, rural electrification and other development projects)," the President said.

At the same time, the President expressed sadness over the resignation of Commissioner Rene Banez from the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

"Siya ay isang malaking kawalan sa pamahalaan dahil hangad kong mapatupad niya ang mga reporma sa BIR – una na ang pagsasa-ayos ng sistema ng koleksyon ng buwis (He’s a big loss in the government because I tasked him to institute reforms in the BIR, including putting in order the system of tax collection)," she said.

The President said that like the late Ninoy Aquino, whose 19^th death anniversary was commemorated last August 21 and the victims of the Plaza Miranda bombing, it is her wish to attain a truthful and honest government.

"Kasama ng aking Gabinete, nagsisikap kaming maipatupad na mabuti ang mga patakaran at program ng pamahalaan at labanan ang katiwalian na nagiging hadlang sa ating pag-unlad (I and my Cabinet are doing all we can to accomplish government programs and fight corruption, which is holding back the country’s development)," the President said.

The President said tax collection fuels pro-poor projects, a priority in her administration as she has declared war against poverty and seeks to eradicate it within the decade.

"Kaya, nais kong ipa-alaala sa inyo na gawing ugali ang pagbayad ng tamang buwis, at ginagawan natin lahat ng paraan upang ito ay magamit ng wasto (This is why I would like to remind you to pay the right taxes because we are making sure that the government would use them properly)," the President said.

The President noted the admiration expressed by World Bank country director Robert Vance Pulley on the progress of the government’s anti-poverty program despite the lack of adequate funds.

She added that the WB official also thinks highly of her Cabinet, especially her economic team.

The President said that Vance Pulley commented that the poor children would be able to read new books inside new classrooms, poor communities would be able to receive medical services inside clinics and health centers, and agencies would be able to dispense social services effectively.

Magandang umaga muli sa inyong lahat.

Nitong nakaraang Agosto a beinte-uno, muli nating ginunita ang anibersaryo ng pagkamatay ni dating Senador Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino. Si Ninoy ay nagsilbing liwanag ng pag-asa para sa marami nating mga kababayan noong panahon ng martial law. Natatandaan pa marahil ninyo na hinarap niya ng buong tapang ang diktadura at tiniis ang hirap nang makulong sa bilangguan alang-alang sa kaniyang pagiging makabayan at maka-Pilipino. Sa kaniyang kabayanihan, iminulat niya ang ating mga mata na kaya nating bawiin ang dignidad at kalayaan ng sambayanan sa nagkakaisang pagkilos.

Katulad ni Ninoy, hangad ng aking Administrasyon ang matapat na pamamahala sa ating bayan. Kasama ng aking Gabinete, nagsisikap kaming maipatupad na mabuti ang mga polisiya at programa ng pamahalaan at labanan ang katiwalian na nagiging hadlang sa ating pag-unlad.

Kaya't nanghihinayang ako sa pagbibitiw ni Rene Baņez bilang Commissioner ng Bureau of Internal Revenue. Siya ay isang malaking kawalan sa pamahalaan dahil hangad kong maipatupad niya ang mga reporma sa BIR, unang una ang pagsasaayos ng sistema ng koleksiyon ng buwis.

Sa panahon ngayon, kailangan natin ang matapat at maayos na pagkolekta ng buwis. Alam naman nating lahat na sa ibinabayad na buwis kinukuha ang perang ginagamit ng gobyerno para sa mga paaralan, kalsada, patubig, rural electrification, at iba pang development projects.

Ito ay mahalaga dahil ang pag-unlad ng buhay ng mahihirap nating mga kababayan ay nakasalalay sa mga proyektong tulad nito. Alam na rin ninyo marahil na ang pangunahing layunin ng aking administrasyon ay ang wakasan ang kahirapan sa loob ng dekadang kasalukuyan. Kaya, nais kong ipalala sa inyo na gawing ugali ang pagbayad ng tamang buwis.

At ginagawa natin ang lahat ng paraan upang ito ay magamit ng wasto.

Sabi nga ng World Bank Country Director sa ating bansa na si Robert Vance Pulley, hinahangaan niya ang pagsulong ng ating anti-poverty programs sa kabila ng mahigpit nating kakulangan sa pondo.

Sa lalong madaling panahon, aniya, ang mga batang galing sa mahihirap na pamilya ay makagagamit na ng mga bagong libro sa loob ng mga bagong gawang paaralan.

Ang mga mahihirap na komunidad ay makatatanggap na rin ng mga serbisyong pangkalusugan sa mga bagong tayong clinics at health centers.

Ang iba pang social services ay mas magiging mabilis habang pinagbubuti ng gobyerno ang implementasyon ng mga programa at proyektong suportado ng World Bank.

Dagdag pa ng nasabing WB official, "Because of the resolve of the administration to ensure the prompt implementation of projects, there is now a shorter period of time to deliver the services and infrastructure to the intended poor communities."

Hindi rin tayo tumitigil sa paghahanap ng paraan para lutasin ang iba pang problemang hinaharap ng ating bansa, lalung-lalo na ang krimen at terorismo. Huwag nating kalimutan na development comes hand in hand with peace and order.

Kaya, ako ay natutuwa na nakapuntos na naman tayo laban sa organized crime. Binabati ko sina CIDG Chief Nestorio Gualberto at VRB Chairman Bong Revilla sa kanilang raid sa isang warehouse sa Meycauayan, Bulacan, kung saan nakumpiska nila ang may isang bilyong pisong halaga ng video at audio compact discs at piracy equipment. Naaresto nila ang grupo ng foreign nationals na nasa likod ng naturang ilegal na gawain. Hinihingi ko ang suporta ng madla sa kampanya laban sa video piracy na isang uri ng pagnanakaw.

Binabati ko rin ang mga nakahuli sa limang pinaghihinalaang carnapper, kasama ang isang pulis, sa bayan ng Umingan sa Pangasinan.

Tungkol naman sa pagdukot sa anim na sibilyan ng grupong Abu Sayyaf sa Patikul, Sulu, kumikilos na ang ating mga sundalo upang tugisin ang mga bandidong may kagagawan nito.

Isang impostor naman na nagpapakilalang representative ni First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, at umano ay Officer In Charge ng pamahalaan sa pagbebenta o pagpapa-upa ng lupa sa Tokyo, Japan, ang agad na ipinadarakip natin sa NBI.

Let this be a firm warning to anyone intending to use the good name of my family and office for their own interests. The government will not waste any time in prosecuting impostors and influence peddlers. We will not hesitate to employ the full force of the law in dealing with criminals who undermine our efforts in building a strong republic.

Patuloy nating dudurugin ang mga sindikato ng krimen at terorismo. Maliit man o malaki, hindi natin titigilan ang pagtugis sa kanila. Hindi maaring maghari ang karahasan at panggugulo ng iilan sa ating lipunan.

Mahal kong mga kababayan, marami pa tayong kailangang gawin upang lalong mapabilis ang ating pag-unlad. Kaya, tulungan n’yo akong sugpuin ang krimen, terorismo, at katiwalian na nagiging sagabal para magkaroon ng mapayapa at magandang buhay ang bawa't Pilipino. Samahan n'yo ako sa aking hangaring wakasan ang kahirapan at pairalin ang matapat na pamamahala sa ating bansa.

CAVITE CITY – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is mulling a comprehensive plan to transfer the headquarters of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to Sangley Point in order to spur economic activity in this city.

The President brought up this idea today during an informal meeting with Cavite officials led by Gov. Erineo Maliksi and Cavite City Mayor Bernardo Paredes.

She motored here this morning to visit the family of Joselito Alejo, one of the three overseas Filipino workers who were acquitted recently on a murder case in Saudi Arabia.

During their discussion, the Chief Executive said the present property being occupied by the PCG at Port Area, Manila is a prime commercial property which can be privatized to alleviate the country’s budget deficit.

"Sayang naman napaka-commercial ng area. Sayang ang value, i-privatize natin, ang laking bagay for our budget deficit (It is a commercial area, we will privatize it so that the proceeds can help in solving our budget deficit)," the President said.

According to the President, the transfer of the PCG to Sangley Point could also increase the value of property in Cavite City and its neighboring towns.

At present, Sangley Point is home to the 15^th Strike Wing, the elite group of the Philippine Air Force (PAF).

In order to further enhance economic activity in Cavite, the President asked Gov. Maliksi to include in their mission abroad the viability and potentials of Sangley Point as an investment site.

She said the province could also invite prospective build-operate-transfer (BOT) investors to submit their own proposal.

"It should be something they can afford and you just choose the best proposal," the President said.

President Macapagal-Arroyo recalled that it was through the lessons of Sangley Point as to why the government has created the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA).

She said the BCDA was actually meant to avoid the repetition of another Sangley Point where economic activity had stopped after the closure of the American base.

In the case of Subic, the President said there are more workers now in the freeport than during the time when the US facilities were there.

In a related development, PCG chief Vice Admiral Reuben Lista welcomed the President’s proposal to transfer the PCG headquarters to Sangley Point for as long as their vital structures would be replicated in the site.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today approved the amount of P9.56 billion for the implementation of the government’s Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) for fiscal year 2003.

In the 3lst meeting of the Presidential Agrarian Reform Council (PARC) held this afternoon in Malacaņang, the President also endorsed the provision of additional fund for the bond servicing requirement of CARP, specifically its inclusion in the Automatic Appropriation for the Debt Service Program.

Out of the CARP outlay, a total of P6.047 billion will be used as regular allocation of the Agrarian Reform Fund (ARF) to cover the funds needed for land acquisition and distribution.

The allocation for the Program Beneficiaries Development under the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Program (AFMP) is P3.512 billion.

The bulk of the AFMP-ARF budget, which is P3.021 billion, is for foreign assisted projects.

The budget for CARP, as recommended by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), basically adopts the FY 2002 CARP budget level and is 71 percent lower than the initial proposal of P16.379 billion.

To be able to meet the commitment of the President in her State of the Nation Address to distribute at least 100,000 hectares of private agricultural lands annually, the priority allocation of funds for land acquisition and distribution is for landowners’ compensation.

For next year, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) is targeting a total of 110,677 hectares of lands for distribution to CARP beneficiaries. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), on the other hand, is targeting 5,410 hectares for distribution next year.