Socio-Economic Development Planning Secretary Dante Canlas has sworn into office four newly appointed regional directors of the National Statistics Office (NSO) in simple rites at the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) office in Pasig City.

Canlas named the four presidential appointees as Olivia Gulla for the Cordillera Administrative Region (Baguio City); Rolando Dimaunahan for Eastern Visayas (Tacloban City); Victor Baugbog for Western Mindanao (Zamboanga City); and Jaime Paller for Central Mindanao (Cotabato City).

In a report to Malacaņang, Canlas said the appointees were former Provincial Statistics Officers who rose from the ranks and have served the government service for more that 25 years.

They are among the best in field operations, both in statistics and civil registration, as their respective areas have been consistent leaders in the NSO Field Awards.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Saturday night sought the assistance of fellow-members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), particularly Malaysia and Indonesia, in apprehending members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) who would attempt to flee the country.

The President, in a press briefing shortly after she visited American missionary Gracia Burnham at the United States Chancery in Pasay City, said "I am concerned that the Abu Sayyaf leaders may try to flee the country. So I have asked the Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Franklin Ebdalin, to seek the assistance of our ASEAN neighbors, particularly Malaysia and Indonesia who are with us in this trilateral agreement to fight terrorism."

The Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia signed a Trilateral Agreement on Terrorism and Transnational Crimes last month, vowing to cooperate in preventing the utilization of any one of their land-air-sea territories for the purpose of committing or furthering terrorism, money laundering, smuggling, piracy or robbery at sea, hijacking, illegal entry, drug trafficking, marine pollution and illicit trafficking of arms.

Aside from the three signatories to the Trilateral Agreement, the other members of Asean are Thailand, Singapore, Myanmar, Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. Thailand, through Prime Minister Thaksin Shinwatra, has signified its intention to join the Trilateral Agreement.

The trilateral agreement was proposed by the Philippines during the Seventh ASEAN Summit held in Brunei Darussalam in November 2001.

It was signed by Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina, Jr. for the Philippines, Foreign Minister N. Hassan Wirajuda of Indonesia and Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar of Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur last May 7.

The President’s statement, in effect, asked other members of the 10-nation regional group to deny refuge to the members of the kidnapping and terrorist gang and help the Philippine government capture and bring them to justice for their crimes against humanity.

At the same time, the President asked Ebdalin to seek the assistance of the International Police Organization and other international law enforcement agencies and send a similar message to the United States Department of Justice.

She noted that the Philippines joined the global effort against terrorism from Day One after the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks in the United States.

"We know from our experience in Southwestern Philippines that terrorism is a scourge that causes great pain and suffering and many casualties. This has happened to us in Southwestern Philippines and it has been happening around the world," she said.

The President likewise reiterated that the Philippine government has stood firm and would continue to stand firm in the fight against terrorism.

"We will not back down. There will be no negotiation, there will be no compromise. Kidnappers are the lowest form of life and taking hostages is a crime against all humanity and must not be allowed to proliferate," she declared.

The Philippine government, she added, regrets the loss of life of innocent victims as well as military personnel who are pursuing the terrorists.

"I realize what the painful price we and all the peace-loving nations have to pay to make the world safer for law-abiding citizens," she said.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will continue to expound on current national issues and concerns as she communicates with the people in her regular "Lingguhang Interbyu sa Pangulo" weekly radio program aired nationwide.

The President goes on-air from 7:30 to 8:00 a.m. every Monday.

Tomorrow, June 10, the President will be interviewed by radio anchormen Rey Langit, Christy Dailo, Caloy Castro and Ely Aligora over radio station DWIZ.

In the next three Mondays, she will go live over radio stations DZRH (June 17), DZMM (June 24) and DZBB (July 1).

In past interviews, the President had candid interaction with the people over local and national concerns, particularly those that relate to social and economic development.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Saturday night visited American missionary Gracia Burnham at her hospital bed inside the United States Chancery in Pasay City and expressed her deepest sympathy over the death of Gracia’s husband Martin.

"I am grateful to the Lord, I am grateful to the soldiers that Gracia was rescued alive," the President told reporters shortly after the visit.

During the visit, the President told Gracia how deeply saddened she was over the death of Martin, over the death of Filipino nurse Ediborah Yap and over the death of soldiers who stood their ground throughout the whole year of trying to rescue the Burnhams, Yap and other hostages held by the notorious kidnap-for-ransom and terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group.

She relayed Gracia’s appreciation to the Filipino soldiers for their effort in rescuing her from the hands of the Abu Sayyaf.

"She told me many, many times that I should be proud of them," the President said.

She added that she has arranged for the arrival of the family of slain Ediborah to Manila today so that Gracia could see them before she leaves for the United States.

"She’s been with their mother for one year and Gracia is sure that the children want to know many details about how their mother has been throughout this past year," the President said.

She stressed that what should be done right now is to make sure that what Martin, Ediborah, the soldiers and innocent civilians sacrificed for will not be in vain, as she vowed to work to bring the terrorists to justice.

Now that there are no more hostages in the hands of the Abu Sayyaf, the President stressed that the incident should be considered a milestone in the effort to fight terrorism and criminality in the Philippines.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last night asked the Chinese- Filipino businessmen to help her administration build school buildings in barangays in the towns of Siraway, Sibuco, Siocon and Baliguian or the SSSB Complex of Zamboanga del Norte.

In her speech during the celebration of the Filipino-Chinese Friendship Day at the Century Seafood Restaurant on Vito Cruz, Manila, the President noted that the SSSB Complex is as poor as Basilan where many barangays have no schools at all.

"No wonder many of the barrio folk, uneducated therefore, earn their living only by harboring terrorists who are on the run," she said.

She said it was in those areas where the Abu Sayyaf fled after their atrocities in Ipil, Zamboanga del Sur in 1995.

It was also in that same area where American hostages Martin and Gracia Burnham and Filipina nurse Ediborah Yap were found.

"We are winning the military battle in the SSSB complex. But you must help me win the battle for their hearts and mind. Help me win their battle against poverty," the President told the Chinese-Filipino businessmen.

Also in her speech, the President thanked the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) for helping the government in narrowing the gap in classroom needs through their "Operation Barrio Schools."

Since the FFCCCII can build classrooms at half the cost of government-built houses, the President said she challenged the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to try to match that costing.

In her speech, the President also lauded Senate President Franklin Drilon for turning over to the FFCCCII P100 million of his own development fund for the construction of 571 classrooms.

This, she said, is a clear acceptance by the government of the status of the Federation not just as a leading organization in the Chinese-Filipino community but also as a key partner in socio-economic development.

The President pointed out that what made her happy about the Drilon-FFCCCII initiative is that she was allowed to choose the area where the schools will be built.

"I chose 571 barangays where no school exists," she said, adding that it is now part of her administration’s school-for-every-barangay program.

She rallied all the members of the FFCCCII to help the government build more school buildings especially for the early grades, so that little children will not end up dropping out of school so early because they have to walk long distances just to go to first grade.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today met with the family of slain Filipina nurse Ediborah Yap in Malacanang prior to the family’s meeting with recovering Abu Sayyaf hostage victim Gracia Burnham.

The President, along with First Gentleman Atty. Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo, conferred with Ediborah’s mother, Mrs. Fatima Pamaran, brother Dave Pamaran, and children Jonathan, Anthony, Mary Anne, and Lawrence at her office in the Palace.

The President told the family that it was the personal request of Gracia Burnham during their meeting Saturday night that she would like to meet Ediborah’s children before she leaves for the United States.

The President noted that Ediborah died in the line of duty as "even in captivity, she was doing her duty as a nurse."

"This is why Gracia Burnham asks that before she leaves for the United States, she would like to speak to Ediborah’s children, to know them because understandably, she and Ediborah were together for a year. She wants to tell so many things to the children and I’m sure the children want to ask her many things," the President said.

Aside from conferring with them, the President extended financial support to the family and assured them of provision for a sustainable livelihood.

The eldest of Ediborah’s children, Jonathan, 24, works in the fishing business of his uncle while Anthony, 20, is set to enlist in the military.

Mary Anne, 16, who declined to be photographed, is a recipient of the President’s scholarship program while Lawrence, 7, has just entered elementary school.

Accompanying the family to the Palace was Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon Juliano "Dinky" Soliman.

The President made arrangements for the transport of the family to Manila. They would be back in Basilan Monday.

The President, meanwhile, said Gracia Burnham was very gracious when she met her yesterday.

The Chief Executive noted that Gracia kept on telling her how courageous Filipino soldiers were in the fight against the Abu Sayyaf.