President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today assured the relatives and families of the human rights victims of Southern Tagalog that the government would investigate the alleged military abuses even against them as she vowed that human rights violations during martial law would never happen again.

The President made the remarks during her one and a half hour breakfast dialogue with the relatives and families of the "Southern Tagalog 10," a group of activists representing the victims who were either salvaged or who disappeared mysteriously 25 years ago.

The meeting, held at Malacaņang’s State Dining Room, coincided with the culmination of the International Human Rights Week.

It was the President herself who initiated the unprecedented meeting with the families and relatives of the human rights victims to assure them that her administration has taken up the challenge to find ways and give justice to the victims of the martial law regime under the late strongman, President Ferdinand Marcos.

According to the victims’ families, during the last week of July and the first half of August in 1977, 10 young men and women – all honor students, outstanding teachers and professionals – disappeared. They were never heard of ever since.

The 10, whom relatives and families call the Southern Tagalog 10, belong to a network of activists in Southern Tagalog who fought against Proclamation No. 1081.

The President told them that in response to their recommendation, she is now certifying as urgent a bill pertaining to salvaging and forced disappearances that the government will soon file in the House of Representatives.

She said that this would be in addition to the pending bill on the compensation of human rights victims.

The President said that the bill would define involuntary disappearance as a crime and those found responsible would be penalized.

She informed the group that the investigation of Southern Tagalog 10 human rights cases will be handled by the Presidential Committee on Human Rights (PCHR).

The President also ordered Secretary Angelo Reyes of the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to provide the PCHR all the necessary information and documents regarding the case of Southern Tagalog 10 human rights victims.

She said that in honor of the bravery of the activists who fought and died during martial law regime, the government, through the National Historical Institute (NHI). will be setting up a commemorative marker in Lucena City, adding that the target date for the inauguration is on February 22, 2003.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today approved the proposal of the Committee on Tariff and Related Matters (CTRM) to modify the 2003 most favored nation (MFN) tariffs on an estimated 2,016 product lines.

Trade and Industry Secretary Manuel Roxas II, who presented to the Cabinet and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) the proposed changes, responded to the requests of domestic producers for more time to become competitive, to lower the cost of imported raw materials and capital equipment and, in the case of agricultural and fishery products, allow for negotiating flexibility in the ongoing negotiations under the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement on agriculture.

The changes which will be contained in a draft executive order, will implement the grant of zero duty on 41 information and communications technology (ICT) products beginning January 1, 2003.

"These products make up the first of the three tranches that will fulfill the Philippines commitment under the e-ASEAN framework agreement," Roxas explained.

Roxas also said that this will provide support to the ICT sector by facilitating the entry to the country of ICT parts and components.

The zero duty on all 41 ICT products is expected to result in a foregone annual revenue of P39.5 million, Roxas said.

The draft EO will also implement the grant of zero duty on 79 products offerable under the ASEAN Integration System of Preferences (AISP), which requires that the 40 percent local content requirement comes solely from the preference-receiving country. The AISP rate shall apply only to imports from the preference receiving country.

The issuance of the EO will fulfill the Philippines commitment under the AISP to unilaterally extend tariff preferences to countries such as Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV) on a voluntary and bilateral basis.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today approved the proposal of the Department of Tourism (DOT) projecting the Philippines as the shopping capital of Asia with Makati City as the shopping showcase.

The Chief Executive approved the proposal following the program presentation by Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon during the Cabinet Meeting this morning at the Social Hall of the Department of National Defense in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

The President said she approved Makati as the country’s shopping showcase because "it is easy to secure the place from terrorists."

In his presentation, Gordon said the program is designed to let the whole world know that the Philippines is the new shopping capital of Asia with its great malls that offer goods and services at competitive prices.

He said Hong Kong and Singapore used to be the bargain centers of Asia, but have now become too expensive.

Gordon also said the program is likewise aimed at attracting tour groups whose main interest is in shopping and to spur entrepreneurial and business activity where Filipinos can now sell their products to foreign visitors.

He told the President and members of the Cabinet that Makati was chosen as the shopping showcase from among other cities in the metropolis because "it is the Philippines’ premier business and financial center with state-of-the-art telecommunications facilities, high-rise buildings, modern road network, world-class malls and hotels, residential condominiums, restaurants and services."

Gordon stressed that Makati is a well-planned urban center and relatively "blight-free" and will give a very good image of the Philippines.

He also cited other interesting amenities Makati can offer to both the Manila residents and tourists such as golf courses, museums, spas, entertainment centers, and its proximity to the airport as well as its accessibility to and from any point within the Metro Manila area.

According to Gordon, Makati is a "hub" and ideal jump-off point for leisure activities available in nearby areas such as Boracay, Subic, Tagaytay, Corregidor, Palawan, Cebu, Baguio and Banaue and Davao.

It can be recalled that the DOT and the city government of Makati under the leadership of Mayor Jejomar Binay, acting under the instructions of President Macapagal-Arroyo, organized the Makati Tourism Related Industries Congress (TRICON) on November 27, 2002 with 200 participants from the various sectors.

Malacanang today assured residents of Metro Manila that despite the decision of the Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad) to return its concession to the government, there will be no disruption in the supply of water to Maynilad’s thousands of customers.

In a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo this afternoon after the Cabinet Meeting, Presidential Spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao said that under the contract the Maynilad signed with the government, the notice of termination will have to be decided by the International Appeals Committee within 60 to 90 days.

"So, we would like to assure everybody that there would certainly be no disruption at all in water services. Even the Maynilad people have assured that there would be no disruption until the contract is settled," Tiglao said.

In a separate press briefing, Public Works and Highways Secretary Simeon Datumanong also said that Metro Manilans being served by Maynilad have nothing to worry about. "Water services to them would continue as usual," he said.

Datumanong said there is still the possibility that the kinks in the contract between the MWSI and the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) could be resolved within the 90-day period.

Datumanong, who is also chairman of the MWSS board, said the MWSS has 30 days to respond to the notice of early termination filed by Maynilad.

He said that if there will be no compromise settlement with Maynila, water distribution will revert to MWSS. "The MWSS would continue operating without prejudice to the delivery of the service to the people," Datumanong said.

Datumanong admitted that the government was "quite surprised" when it received the notice of early termination from Maynilad "because the MWSS has always been working with Maynilad to promote the partnership, the privatization of the operations of the water system."

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today instructed some members of her Cabinet to hold a workshop on the microeconomic measures proposed by House Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr. aimed at strengthening the Philippine economy.

The President directed concerned Cabinet secretaries to conduct the workshop before the end of this year, so that the programs that would be incorporated in the current economic program of the government could be implemented.

According to Presidential Spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao, the economic program that was presented by the resident economist in the House, Romy Neri, was quite similar to the program of the President.

"Essentially it entails really working on some of the details, some of the red tape, some of the very small but not exciting reforms," Tiglao said, citing as example the reduction of steps in securing permits or clearances from the Philippine Ports Authority, among others.

"Very routine things that are not quite big, but these will, little by little, develop the economy of the nation," Tiglao added.

Makati City as the center or the focus of tourism was also presented by Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon, who said that the city could be the shopping capital of Asia for its cheap prices compared to those in other capitals of the world.

The President and the Cabinet also approved Secretary Gordon’s "Visit Philippines 2003" program.

During a press briefing, Tiglao said the World Trade Organization (WTO) has tapped the Philippines as the visit country of the year, and Intramuros will be developed as a "history town."

"We will be developing a historical site where our history would be presented," Gordon said, adding that cultural presentations by the different regions will be offered both to domestic and foreign tourists.

The Cabinet meeting today was held at the Department of National Defense Social Hall in Camp Aguinaldo, the first ever to be held after the SONA of the President last July.

According to Tiglao, this will be the beginning of the holding of Cabinet meetings in different departments, "a chance for the President and her Cabinet to see the different offices of the line departments which are nerve centers of our government."

Malacanang today clarified that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo would not want to interfere in the reported snowballing move to allow a house arrest for her predecessor, former President Joseph Estrada, saying that this is a purely judicial matter.

"The matter Mr. Estrada’s house arrest or even a Christmas furlough cannot be discussed by the President’s executive branch in recognition of the separation of powers," Presidential Spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao said today in a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo after the Cabinet Meeting.

Tiglao said that the Sandiganbayan is the only entity that could decide on whether to allow a house arrest for Estrada instead of being held at the Veterans Medical Center (VMC) in Quezon City.

"There is a law. If you are following the law, you cannot just change it by consensus. It is the Sandiganbayan which would have to rule that the former President could be moved to a house arrest," Tiglao said.

He said that even if the President would want it, she could not meddle in the judicial branch since she represents the executive department.

Tiglao pointed out that Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) Chairman Michael Defensor visited Estrada at the VMC on his own personal capacity, apparently because former San Juan Mayor Jinggoy Estrada is a friend.

He said the visit was purely done on the initiative of Secretary Defensor and did not reflect the official stand of the President on the issue of house arrest.