Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina, Jr. today announced the establishment of a special action center under the National Police Commission (Napolcom) that would address the complaints of citizens against police rascals.

Lina, who made the announcement during an interview at Malacaņang, said the move is in line with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s order to strengthen the police’s response to private citizens’ complaints against abusive men in uniform.

"Several hundreds of rascals in uniform have been relieved since President Macapagal-Arroyo took over. There will be no let-up and we will even heighten the campaign," Lina said.

Lina explained that under the set-up, a reaction team would be dispatched to the area where the complaint was made to investigate the alleged excesses of the police officer.

Lina said the Napolcom would send the team to immediately arrest the alleged offender on the basis of "pre-charging investigation," while preventive and administrative suspension may soon follow, depending on the results of a thorough investigation.

Lina noted that under the law, there are six disciplining authorities as far as police rascals are concerned. These are the Mayor, the People’s Law Enforcement Board, and Regional Director of the Philippine National Police, the PNP chief, Internal Affairs Service of the PNP and the Napolcom.

Lina, however, said the Napolcom emerges as the one that has a greater responsibility in making sure that the police act in accordance with the law.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina, Jr. today said the Philippine National Police has relieved the police intelligence officer responsible for the closure of the embassies of Australia and Canada and the European Union office in the country.

Lina, in an interview at Malacaņang, identified the officer as Police Superintendent George Gaddi of the Western Police District.

Lina said the relief is preliminary to the heavier disciplinary sanctions Gaddi may deserve after a thorough and complete investigation.

He said that while an investigation is still being undertaken, "preliminary reports point to his involvement."

Lina also said the authorities are looking into the officer’s possible motives in coming out with intelligence reports that led to the temporary closure of the embassies in Makati, which is under the Southern Police District.

During a luncheon with Palace reporters last Wednesday, the President said she had ordered Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., chief of the PNP, to throw the book at the officer and find out his motives.

Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye today discounted the possibility of a military takeover as he assured the nation that the country is stable.

"We have sufficient stability in the country," Bunye said in a radio interview.

In an interview with Malacanang reporters, Bunye said it is still uncertain if Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr. was quoted correctly when he said that the nation has to accept charter changes now or face the possibility of a military takeover.

Newspapers reported the Speaker as saying that unless the country shifts to a unicameral parliamentary system soon, the inability of its leaders to solve its problems and destructive politics might lead to an authoritarian rule.

Bunye noted that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is not against proposals to amend the Constitution per se but the issue of charter change should not be tied with postponing the presidential elections in 2004.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina, Jr. today ordered local government units, to be assisted by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), to conduct regular inspections of factories, warehouses and other business establishments in their localities for fire hazards and compliance with safety standards.

In an interview with Palace reporters, Lina said that in his memorandum, the BFP would head the regular inspection since it can easily enter such establishments and check if the businesses are complying with safety standards.

Lina also said that mayors may also conduct their own inspections as they have "visitorial powers" to call on business establishments and check if such places comply with the conditions of their business permits.

"Kailangang magtulungan tayo dito (We need to help each other in this concern)," Lina said.

The issuance of the memorandum stemmed from the recent discovery of the biggest narcotics laboratory in Valenzuela City.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today presented citations to this year’s winners of the Sajid Bulig Presidential Award for Heroism, Lupong Tagapamayapa Incentives Awards and Gawad Pangulo sa Kapaligiran.

The awarding ceremonies, held at the Malacanang’s Ceremonial Hall, was also attended by Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina, Jr. and local government officials.

The awardees for the Sajid Bulig Presidential Award for Heroism were (posthumous) Allan Hernaez, a fisherman, who lost his life after saving his 12-year-old friend from drowning last March 30 in Barangay Paypayad, Candon City, Ilocos Sur;

PO2 Allan Tica, who saved the lives of several people in two different incidents: first, in Barangay Sabaan, Bantay, Ilocos Sur wherein at the height of typhoon Feria last July 5, he successfully caused the transfer of people who were stranded on their rooftops to a safer place, unmindful of the danger to his life; and second, when he led the successful rescue of passengers of a motorized banca that capsized while navigating the Abra River near the Quirino bridge in Banaoang, Bantay last July 17;

And the 24 crewmembers of DADD’s Fishing Corporation based in Lucena City, whose efforts resulted in the rescue of passenger of the M/V Carmela that figured in a sea tragedy last April 11 off the coast of Tayabas Bay between the boundaries of Pagbilao and Padre Burgos, Quezon and approximately 10 nautical miles from the Dalahican Fishing Port.

For Most Outstanding Lupong Tagapamayapa in Highly-Urbanized Cities, the winners were Barangay New Cabalan, Olongapo City (national awardee); Barangay Concepcion Uno, Marikina City (first runner-up); and Barangay San Vicente, Butuan City (second runner-up).

For Most Outstanding Lupong Tagapamayapa in Component Cities, the awardees were Barangay Talairon, Oroquieta City (national awardee); Barangay 40, Balatong, Laoag City (first runner-up); and Barangay Rosario, Santiago City (second runner-up).

The Most Outstanding Lupong Tagapamayapa in First to Third-Class Municipalities were Barangay Pico, La Trinidad, Benguet (national awardee); Barangay Silangan, San Mateo, Rizal (first runner-up); and Barangay Sto. Nino, Abuyog, Leyte (second runner-up).

For Most Outstanding Lupong Tagapamayapa in Fourth to Sixth-Class Municipalities, the winners were Barangay Nayon, Lamut, Ifugao (national awardee); Barangay Lambayong, Tampakan, South Cotabato; and Barangay Sta. Lucia, Aringay, La Union (second runner-up).

The Gawad Pangulo sa Kapaligiran (for Panlalawigan category) were given to Bukidnon (national awardee), La Union (first runner-up) and Bohol (second runner-up); (for Panglungsod category, Highly Urbanized Cities Cluster) Bacolod City, Olongapo City and Davao City; (for Component Cities Cluster) Laoag City, Oroquieta City, and Roxas City; (for First to Third-Class Municipalities Cluster) Brooke’s Point, Palawan, Agoo, La Union and Carmen, Bohol; (for Fourth to Sixth-Class Municipalities Cluster) Lanuza, Surigao del Sur, Kibawe, Bukidnon and Banga, Aklan; (for Inland Bodies of Water category-Lakes) Barracuda Lake, Coron, Palawan; Lake Maughan, Tiboli, South Cotabato and Lake Danao, Ormoc City; (Rivers) Matutinao River, Badian, Cebu, Bugang River, Pandan, Antique and Wangan River, Gonzaga, Cagayan.

Special awards were given to Marikina City and the municipality of San Juan.

Malacanang today disagreed with the reported assessment of the business sector that the issue of house arrest of deposed President Joseph Ejercito Estrada is affecting the peace and order situation of the country.

"It is totally irrelevant to our political stability, which is well established," Presidential Spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao today said in a press briefing in Malacanang.

Tiglao, who is also Chief of Staff of the Office of the President, said that even in the last Pulse Asia survey, the concern about stability, peace and order, has moved downward.

Tiglao emphasized that the President is focusing on economic recovery. "The President is moving really towards two major centerpiece programs-- housing and job generation," he said.

He revealed that the President has started talking to two different groups on ways in which they could help out in pushing the administration’s job-generation program.

Saying it has not been finalized, Tiglao said the approach would be to ask the business sector, including the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), to commit to a certain level of employment, even for six months, to stimulate the economy.