President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo called today for grassroots vigilance backed up by a timely and efficient reporting system to the police and the military to combat terrorism.

In her expanded radio message to the people delivered over the weekend, the President called on everyone to do his or her share in the battle against trouble makers "trying to bully 80-million Filipinos into living in fear and terror in their own homes and neighborhood."

"It is the vigilance of the ordinary citizens in the streets that makes the difference in the war against terrorism," said the President.

"We must further strengthen our grassroots focus against terrorism," the President added. "Each and every citizen can help prevent harm to the community and the nation."

The President said the mayors of Metro Manila, in a meeting in Malacaņang yesterday along with the National Security Council, agreed to take the lead in the war against terrorism and the protection of the citizenry against secretive and defiant extremists.

The President added that the mayors, who now have control over the police, will also take the lead in the gathering of intelligence information and the operations against the terrorists.

The mayors will also have the responsibility to supervise cases of terrorist incidents in their areas of responsibility, including the investigation and arrest of those behind such acts of violence against society, the President said.

"The police and the military shall assist the mayors in this responsibility as needed," the President said.