Press Freedom

The fact that the President personally went to GMA 7 to talk things over with GMA 7 management under a cordial atmosphere should be assurance enough that the President will never countenance the suppression of press freedom. We believe that this matter has been settled to the satisfaction of both parties. We can assure anyone that under President GMA, no media owner will ever have to sell his newspaper or broadcast outfit because of undue pressure from Malacaņang. Neither will any reporter be harassed while in the legitimate pursuit of his/her profession.

OIC Meeting

The President has accepted the invitation of Prime Minister Mahatir Mohamad to attend the opening ceremonies of the meeting of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) which is scheduled in Kuala Lumpur in mid-October. Aside from PGMA, only three other heads of states of non-Islamic countries (Russia, South Africa and Ghana) were invited by Prime Minister Mahatir.

AFP Infra Projects

The President today directed DND Chief Angelo Reyes to suspend all military infrastructure projects, except schools and barangay roads which she has specifically approved, pending review by newly created task force on AFP procurement and disbursement procedure. The task force is headed by Undersecretary Constancia de Guzman.

DILG Jails

True to her commitment to give shelter security to the homeless, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today led the awarding of certificates of ownership to 361 beneficiaries of the government’s medium-rise housing project at Karangalan Village in Pasig City.

The President personally awarded the certificates to each of the 361 beneficiaries during the awarding rites held this morning at the Karangalan Village in Pasig City.

While inspecting one housing unit, the President had a brief conversation with 83-year-old Santiago Camacho who told the President that her eldest daughter will pay for the monthly amortization of the unit.

The President told some 400 community residents that the holding of raffles is no longer used as a procedure in the awarding of housing units. Instead, she said, priority will be given to the combat awardees or those who have taken part in the military operations in some armed conflict areas.

"Raffle is longer used but those with medals from the military operations will be given priority, combat priority, yan ang ating prinsipyo sa armed forces," she said.

While the President was taking her lunch, Flor Balceta, a 60-year-old grandmother, along with her three-year old grandchild, appealed to the President and asked if she could obtain one housing unit in the Karangalan Village project.

Balceta narrated to the President that she is having a hard time in paying her monthly rental at P3,000 in their home in San Lorenzo, Manggahan, Pasig City.

The President immediately referred Balceta to Pasig City Mayor Soledad Eusebio for assistance while Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council Chairman Michael T. Defensor assured the old woman of one housing unit in Karangalan Village.

The Karangalan Village medium-rise housing project is a joint undertaking of the National Housing Authority (NHA) and Pasig City government for homeless residents of Pasig City, public school teachers, city government employees, policemen and other local government employees in Pasig City.

The housing project covers one hectare with a total project cost of P128 million. It has two sites with ten five-storey medium-rise buildings that would generate a total of 600 housing units.

Each unit has a floor area of 22.5 square meters to 24 square meters and shall be leased out for the first five years for a minimum of P750.00 to a maximum of P1,600 per month.

After five years, the beneficiary-owner will pay the maximum of P2,000 as monthly amortization. Each unit will cost from P247,000 to P400,000.

As stated in the certificate of ownership issued by the NHA, the owner-beneficiary is not allowed to use the certificate as a collateral for any kind of loan and it is not transferable.

Hindi ko na dapat pag-aksayahan ng panahon ang mga paratang na ito ni Senator Lacson. Ang masasabi ko lang, ang lahat ng mga ito ay pawang kasinungalingan at walang katotohanan.

Kapansin-pansin na sa mga sinabi ni Senator Lacson, walang complainant, walang biktima, walang public funds na ginamit, walang public official na sangkot. Ano ngayon ang sinasabi niyang graft and corruption? Gayun paman kung may matibay na kaso si Senator Lacson laban sa akin, dapat maghain siya ng angkop na kaso sa korte, at handa akong makipagsabayan sa kanya para patunayan na mali ang kanyang mga paratang.

Kapuna-puna din na ginawa ni Senator Lacson ang akusasyon sa loob ng isang privilege speech para makapagtago siya sa likod ng parliamentary immunity. Dapat sana, ay huwag niyang gamitin ang kanyang pagiging Senador para sa pamumulitika at paninira. Hinahamon ko siya na gawin niya ito sa labas ng Senado para maging patas ang laban.

Halatang-halata naman na ang privilege speech ni Sen. Lacsion bilang panangga or smokescreen para mawala ang attention sa binabalitang paglabas ng committee report ng Senado ukol sa mga bintang ng drug trafficking at iba pang ilegal na gawain laban sa kanya. Nitong mga huling araw, panay ang banta ni Sen. Lacson na maglalabas siya ng expose laban sa akin kung matutuloy ang nasabing committee report. Ginagawa niyang hostage ang Senado, samantalang tungkulin ng Senado na ipaalam sa publiko ang resulta ng mga nagging committee hearing ukol sa kaso ni Sen. Lacson.

Dapat harapin ni Sen. Lacson ang mga akusasyon laban sa kanya sa halip na magdamay ng ibang tao.