Labor and Employment Secretary Patricia A. Sto. Tomas today expressed the appreciation of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration to e-Telecare International, the country’s largest call center, for choosing the Philippines as its major investment and operations site.

In a report, Sto. Tomas said that the call center industry is a sunshine industry that represents a window of growth for the country.

Sto. Tomas congratulated e-Telecare International for inaugurating its second call center facility at the PBCom Tower in Makati City.

The firm is expected to employ some 2,500 workers in its new facility that occupies three floors of the Philippines' tallest building.

e-Telecare International started with only 25 workers when it set up its first facility in the Philippines at the Citibank Square in Eastwood Park, Quezon City two years ago.

The firm now counts among its clients some of the world's top financial institutions, telecommunications giants and service organizations. By the end of this year, the company expects to have a workforce of 1,800. It expects to triple that number in three years.

"The services sector, including call centers and fast food chains, are boosting employment, and helping cushion weak job growth in other sectors," Sto. Tomas said.

She said the firm’s opening of its second center in the Philippines shows that employment is flourishing in this particular industry.

The call center industry, Sto. Tomas said, attests to the fact that "the Philippines' best natural resource is labor."

James Franke, president of e-Telecare International, cited the role of the Filipino workers in the company. "Broadly speaking, the first member of our team is the Philippines itself, with its highly educated, English speaking workforce," he said.

CEBU CITY – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today instructed Energy Secretary Vicente Perez to refer to the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) for investigation those implicated by Sen. Sergio Osmeņa III in his privilege speech to the alleged anomalies in the National Transmission Co. (Transco).

In her speech at the University of San Carlos here, the President said she has also ordered the investigation of alleged anomalies in the Public Estates Authority, Philippine National Construction Corp., and the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB).

Just yesterday in Argao, the President ordered the PAGC to conduct a lifestyle check on top government officials – from Cabinet secretaries, undersecretaries, assistant secretaries to bureau directors; executives of government-owned and control corporations; heads of government financial institutions and other major offices in the executive branch of government – to see if they are living within their means.

The President, however, cautioned the people not to expect prosecution and convictions overnight.

"Due process will be observed," she said, adding that the process may be laborious but will be focused and determined.

Earlier this week, the President suspended all pending and planned projects of the PEA, especially those requiring public bidding "until the investigation of the alleged overpricing of the project at the reclamation area shall have been completed."

CEBU CITY – In fighting graft and corruption, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said the primordial requirement is to set an example from the top.

This is why even the First Gentleman, Atty. Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo, is not above the law when she enjoined him to face a Senate investigation.

"I have enjoined him to face the Senate investigation to demonstrate that there are no sacred cows in my government," the President said.

And as expected, she said the accusations against him were found to be false and politically-motivated.

She said by letting her husband face inquiry, she has gained moral authority to call on investigation on graft herself.

"Batobato sa langit, pag natamaan huwag magagalit (whoever is hit should not get hurt)," she said.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today lauded the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Zamboanga City Mayor Maria Clara Lobregat for their coordination resulting in the speedy arrest of five suspects believed behind the series of bombing attacks in Zamboanga City during the past weeks.

The five suspects, believed to be members of the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group, were presented to the President at the Villamor Air Base upon her arrival this morning from Cebu City.

In her brief remarks at the presentation of the suspects, the President particularly congratulated PNP chief, Director General Hermogenes Ebdane, Chief Superintendent Eduardo Matillano, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), and Mayor Lobregat

Mayor Lobregat was also present during the presentation, along with Ebdane and Matillano.

The President also congratulated the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for its role in the joint enforcement and command in Mindanao especially in the fight against terrorist elements.

She cited the example of Mayor Lobregat, saying that when the mayor is in command in the fight against crimes, law enforcement units act more in concert.

In answer to a query, the President said that police officers responsible for the arrests are not entitled to cash rewards but they will be given promotions aside from receiving medals of valor.

A PNP press statement said that the five suspects were arrested Tuesday by elements of PNP-CIDG, Police Anti-Crime Emergency Response (PACER) and Police Regional Office 9 during a raid conducted at a suspected Abu Sayyaf Group hideout in Guiwan, Zamboanga City.

The suspects were arrested based on the descriptions provided by the many witnesses who saw them park the bicycle where the bombs were attached at the entrance of the Fort Pilar Shrine last October 20 prior to the explosion that killed the Marine sentry and wounded 10 others.

Initial findings of the investigation showed that the security measures at the checkpoint had prevented the suspects from bringing the bicycle inside the premises of the Fort Pilar Shrine where it would have caused more damage.

Arrested in separate operations were the following:

• Abduljamin Asanul Habi alias Abdulasis/Jamin/Bas Jumail, 18 years old, Yakan, resident of Kalabasa, Curuan, Zamboanga City;

• Bas Ismael alias Big Boy Arab/Arab, 18 years old, Tausug, resident of Siasi, Sulu;

• Madznul Abdula Ladja alias Arjhon Morales/"Eddie", 23, Tausug, resident of Siasi, Sulu;

• Buyungan Bungkak alias Jul, 19, Tausug, resident of Manicahan, Zamboanga City; and

• Rajak Sagumayan alias Rajak, 27, Yakan, resident of Curuan, Zamboanga City.

The arrest were made by virtue of search warrants issued by Judge Jesus Carbon of RTC Branch 16, Ninth Judicial Region in Zamboanga City.

The PNP said their operatives recovered from the suspects two caliber .45 pistols and paraphernalia and equipment for making bombs like long-nose pliers, a cutter, two cell phone units, powder substances, one bicycle compressor, one alarm clock and documents containing instructions for bomb-making

According to the PNP, the suspects are believed to be responsible for at least three bombing incidents, namely, the Malagutay bombing last October 2, the twin explosions at Shop-o-Rama and Shoppers Central last October 7, and the Fort Pilar Shrine bombing last October 20.

CEBU CITY--President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today said that while her administration is determined to rid the bureaucracy of grafters and wrongdoers, the people should not expect convictions overnight because due process will still have to be followed.

In her speech this morning at the opening of the Catholic Student Leaders Conference held at the University of San Carlos here, the President said it is also part of the moral and principled leadership to observe due process in the course of the campaign against corruption in public offices.

In Argao yesterday, the President said that she had ordered the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) to conduct a lifestyle check on all officials of the government as part of her campaign against graft and corruption.

The President said she realized that graft in government could not be crushed in a single stroke like the slaying of the dragon by Saint Michael’s sword or washed away like dirty tables with a Herculean douse of water.

She cited as example former Commissioner Rene Banez of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) who tried to fight graft in the agency like Saint Michael or Hercules.

The President said that in his efforts to fight graft at the BIR as fast as possible, Banez was sabotaged by his own people, prompting him to resign and concentrate on his job as consultant at the Department of Finance.

The lesson that has been learned in the Banez case, the President said, is that like an infected wound, corruption must be healed not by Saint Michael’s dragon but by "patient, constant and steady disinfecting, scraping, and cleansing."

The President said that part of this "scraping and cleansing" process is the adoption of the e-procurement program that has saved billions of pesos and minimized anomalies in government transactions.

She also announced that the BIR, under its new commissioner, former Customs Commissioner Guillermo Parayno, has been able to achieve its revenue target for the month of October after so many months of being below target.

CEBU CITY – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today stressed that she is very concerned about stamping out graft and corruption in government.

In her speech at the opening ceremonies of the Catholic Student Leaders Conference at the University of San Carlos here, the President noted that she is very much influenced by his father, the late President Diosdado Macapagal, who made God first, country second and family third in his priorities.

"We were disciplined to be self-effacing, not self-aggrandizing," the President said.

In fighting graft and corruption, the President said the primordial requirement is to set an example at the top.

Yesterday in Argao, the President recalled, she announced the launch of "a campaign to foster honesty in public service, reward dedication, fidelity to service, and sanction government officials and employees discovered to have amassed wealth and property beyond their means, or who visibly live in affluence when their circumstances do not warrant such luxury."

The President said she ordered the Presidential Ant-graft Commission (PAGC) to spearhead the conduct of a lifestyle check of Cabinet secretaries, undersecretaries, assistant secretaries, bureau directors, executives of government-owned or controlled corporations, heads of government financial institutions, and other major offices in the executive branch.

"Let me assure you, my young friends, that I am working diligently to ensure that the people are getting the professional and clean government you deserve," the President told the student leaders.

Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye today commended Radyo Pilipinas-Overseas of the Philippine Broadcasting Service (PBS) for winning the Best Radio Feature Program for this year’s Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA).

In his letter of commendation to Tanny Rodriguez: Broadcast Station Manager of Radyo Pilipinas, the Press Secretary cited the prestige and honor that the station brought to the Office of the Press Secretary by clinching the award from the prestigious annual television and radio competition.

Radyo Pilipinas’ winning entry is titled "Undas Tradisyon, Ritwal at Iba pa."

"Undas" examines the colorful burial traditions of both Christian and Muslim Filipinos; and provides an expert’s perspective on common experiences that are believed to be paranormal occurrences.

Radyo Pilipinas bagged the prestigious award for the second straight year.

Rodriguez dedicated the award to the millions of Overseas Filipino Workers across the globe who are the primary audience of Radyo Pilipinas.

Rey Sampang wrote the script, while Danny Morados provided the musical scoring. Joshua Ayuste and Gene Tan were the segment producers for the award-winning radio program.

Radyo Pilipinas uses the shortwave facilities of the International Broadcasting Bureau (Voice of America) for it worldwide transmission.

CEBU CITY—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today said that her administration’s policy on population growth is based on the constitutional principle of responsible parenthood.

In her speech at the opening of the Catholic Student Leaders Conference held at the University of San Carlos here, the President said this policy is anchored on the principle of having God as the first priority in determining public policy.

The President said that the priorities of her father, the late President Diosdado Macapagal, which she has adopted as a guiding principle in her public life, are God first, country second, and family only third.

According to the President, responsible parenthood means that parents are educated enough to be able to determine how many children they can afford to have.

"Then, having made that decision responsibly, it is they who will decide how to carry out their decision with regard to their respective religious and cultural beliefs," the President said.

The President also said that there are laws that govern or punish couples who resort to abortion or the use of abortifacient in stopping birth.

She also said that responsible population policy is not just about birth control but also about creative programs like population dispersal.

The density level in Metro Manila, the President said, is already approaching unacceptable limits and that is why the government is setting up resettlement sites outside of Metro Manila.

The National Security Council (NSC), chaired by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, endorsed today the fast-tracking of the anti-terrorism bills now pending in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

In a press briefing in Malacaņang after the NSC meeting at the State Dining Room of the Palace this afternoon, National Security Adviser Roilo Golez said the council also expressed the need to strengthen the nation’s intelligence organizations and saw the danger of the indiscriminate arming of Barangay Tanod or village police.

The NSC also unanimously endorsed the proposal of Basilan Rep. Gerry Salapuddin to hold a Muslim-Christian congress that will consolidate the support of moderate Muslim groups in the government’s anti-terrorism campaign.

Golez said the members of the NSC expressed concern that if the Philippines does not have a strong anti-terrorism law, it will become relatively soft compared to the hard position on anti-terrorism of countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore.

Golez that Malaysia and Singapore already have their internal security laws while President Megawati Sukarnoputri of Indonesia came out last week with two decrees on anti-terrorism which were fully supported by Parliament.

The NSC also reaffirmed the need for a national Identification (ID) system but stressed they would prefer that it be handled through an Executive Order.

Golez said that the proposed ID system will be transaction-related and not obligatory and will be used for government transactions. Golez said this ID is going to be SSS or GSIS-based, referring to the Social Security System and the Government Service Insurance System.

The Security Council also urged the local government units (LGUs) to come up with their local ordinances for an ID that can be used for LGU-related transactions by the general public.

Golez also said the NSC suggested the further strengthening of the Regional Intelligence Coordinating Committee, which is actually chaired by the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency.

The aim is to bring the intelligence efforts down to the ground level and not just at the strategic and operational level of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Golez said.

Seeing the danger of an indiscriminate arming of the Barangay Tanod, Golez said the NSC stressed that this be done by following the strict process for licensing and the carrying of firearms being implemented by the Philippine National Police.

Golez clarified that if the Barangay Tanod are going to be utilized in the fight against terrorism, they should fall under the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) system of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, depending on the degree of threat or concerns of the barangay.

Golez also said the NSC stressed the need to hold an international anti-terrorism conference as soon as possible as he revealed that a lot of countries in the region "are already expressing their keen interest in holding this international conference on terrorism."

On Congressman Salapuddin’s proposal, Golez said the Bishop-Ulama Group will handle the holding of a Muslim-Christian congress in accordance with the inter-faith solidarity thrust of the President as enunciated in her 14- point anti-terrorism program.

"We felt that this is going to be very necessary in order to strengthen inter-faith solidarity," Golez said.

The NSC also took note of the 10-point police-community program to be implemented by the Department of the Interior and Local Governments (DILG) and the local government units, and welcomed the employment of the LGU members in the hardening of targets as well as intelligence work.

The President directed Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo and all concerned departments and agencies to assist the Vice President in the discharge of his functions.

Malacaņang said today the lifestyle check to be conducted by the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) against corrupt public officials is part of the administration’s campaign for good governance and transparency.

"We all know that this administration is really for good governance," Press Secretary Ignacio "Toting" Bunye said during his regular press briefing at Malacaņang this afternoon.

Bunye said all presidential appointees starting from the Cabinet Secretaries, Undersecretaries, down to the level of Director are now the subject of a comprehensive lifestyle check to be conducted by the PAGC.

He said the President issued instructions yesterday to PAGC Chairman Dario Rama to conduct the lifestyle check.

"Let’s just give Chairman Rama a chance to do his work and let’s judge him later on the amount of work that he does in implementing this order," Bunye added.

The Press Secretary also said the mandate or authority of the PAGC is only to initiate administrative investigations and if some people are later found to be criminally liable, the criminal charges will be recommended by the agency to the Office of the Ombudsman.