Malacaņang today called on the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) to stop its attacks, especially against civilian targets, so that the peace process can move on.

In an interview, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Eduardo Ermita said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is sincere in pushing for the peace process and in pursuing programs that would improve the people’s lives.

He said the government panel to the suspended peace negotiations with the foreign-based leaders of the CPP-NPA has prepared a draft agreement that has already been presented to the Cabinet oversight committee.

As soon as the President approves the draft, then it will be submitted to the CPP-NPA and hopefully, the formal peace talks could be resumed, Ermita said.

According to Ermita, the NPA has staged a series of attacks during the past few days to show that it is still capable of doing some harm. He added, however, that the insurgents’ threat to sow more violence and attack non-combatant targets and facilities would only exacerbate the problem and could further derail the peace negotiations.

"Kapag ginawa nila iyan ay lalo nilang patutunayan na sila ay mga terorista. Talaga namang baka hindi matuloy ang ating usapan, dahil nga sa gumagawa sila ng mga bagay na nagpapatunay na sila ay mga terorista (If they do that, this will only prove that they are really terrorists. This could stop the resumption of the talks since what they are doing only confirms that they are terrorists)," Ermita said.

Ermita said that the killing of innocent civilians, destruction of utilities and resorting to extortion activities would only add to the misery of the people, especially those in the provinces.

LEGAZPI CITY – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s scheduled visit to Albay on Saturday to attend the Pantao Summit in Pantao, Libon, Albay augurs well for the fast tracking of the Pantao Port Development Project.

The Pantao Summit, through the initiative of Congressman Jose Salceda (Albay, Third District), seeks to fast-track the implementation of the Pantao Port Development Project which would develop a regional port in the region that would improve market and transport linkages for Bicol to the Visayas and Mindanao regions.

The Pantao Port Development Project was proposed in 1995 and was approved by the Regional Development Council (RDC) as one of the priority projects in the region.

The project would cost P350 million for implementation from 2002 to 2005 which will cover the following scope of work: construction of port facilities required for the five base ports, one terminal port and one new port. Also included in the project is the construction of the Libon-Pantao access road.

For 2002, the Philippine Ports Authority allocated an initial amount of P50 million, with subsequent allocations amounting to P150 million each programmed for 2003 and 2004.

The GMA 7 Network today thanked President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) for the safe release of their kidnapped reporter Carlo Lorenzo and cameraman Gilbert Ordiales.

Lorenzo and Ordiales, accompanied by their bosses and family, paid the President a courtesy call in Malacaņang and thanked the Chief Executive for their freedom.

Also present during the meeting were Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Benjamin Defensor and PNP Chief for Operations Edgardo Aglipay.

Lorenzo said he feels so lucky to get out from such a horrible experience. He also said that while in captivity, he and Ordiales sensed the fear felt by their captors because of the pressure from the military forces.

The two were kidnapped while trying to interview a former Muslim separatist guerilla leader near Indanan, Sulu.

GMA 7 President and Chief Executive Officer Felipe Gozon, who accompanied the freed hostages, thanked the President and her "hardworking" generals.

The President told Lorenzo and Ordiales that they now belonged to the group of journalists who were kidnapped.

Veteran journalist Jessica Soho, who was also present at the meeting, informed the President that "we’ve never paid a single centavo."

Soho also thanked the President for the news blackout that was implemented during the period of the captivity.

The President replied that indeed, a news blackout in kidnap cases makes "a big difference."

Malacaņang today released Memorandum Order No. 77 formalizing an earlier directive of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to return to Metro Manila mayors the operational supervision and control over all units of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in their areas of jurisdiction.

Under MO No. 77, however, operational supervision and control over the PNP could not be exercised by the Metro Manila mayors 30 days before and 30 days after any national, local and barangay elections.

The MO, which was signed by the President last October 1, directed the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) to empower the mayors of the cities and municipalities of the National Capital Region (NCR) "to effectively carry out their responsibility of maintaining peace and order in their respective territorial jurisdictions."

This directive is based on Section 14 of Republic Act No. 6975, also known as the Interior and Local Government Act of l990, that gives the NAPOLCOM administrative control and operational supervision over the PNP.

The MO is issued in pursuance to Section 16 of the Local Government Code of 1991, also known as Republic Act No. 7160, as amended, that provides that local government units shall ensure and support the maintenance of peace and order within their respective territorial jurisdictions.

In issuing the MO, the President said that the NCR, which is composed of 13 cities and four municipalities and home to some 10 million people "is uniquely situated in terms of law enforcement."

"There is a need to institute mechanisms which will ensure and support the performance by the mayors of the cities and municipalities in the NCR of their functions relative to the maintenance of peace and order and to the exercise of operational supervision and control over the units of the PNP within their respective territorial jurisdictions," the President said.

The NCR or Metro Manila is made up of the cities of Manila, Quezon, Pasay, Pasig, Makati, Caloocan, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Valenzuela, Las Pinas, Muntinlupa, and Paranaque, and the municipalities of San Juan, Navotas, Pateros and Taguig.

The MO said that pursuant to RA No. 6975, as amended, the mayors of the NCR shall choose the chiefs of police, station commanders or district directors, respectively from the lists of qualified and eligible officers recommended by the district director of the NCR Police Office (NCRPO) director, preferably from the same city or municipality.

"The mayors may recommend to the district director or the NCRPO director, respectively, an eligible, who may be included in the list of eligibles," the MO said.

The MO also said that the mayors of the cities and municipalities in the NCR shall be given prior notice of the transfer, recall, reassignment or detail of PNP members under their operational supervision and control.

The President announced her approval of the proposal of Metro Manila mayors to restore to them the operation control and supervision over the police during a joint meeting of the Regional Development Council and the Regional Peace and Order Council of Metro Manila held at the Manila Hotel last July 16.

During the joint RDC-RPOC meeting, Manila Mayor Lito Atienza thanked the President for the decision and assured a better crime rate the next time the council meets again.

"As mayors in the National Capital Region, Mrs. President, we would like to be fully responsible in the maintenance of peace and order conditions in each city and municipality," Atienza said.