President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo reiterated Monday night the government’s holistic approach to solving the Mindanao problem, saying peace cannot be limited to a mere absence of war.

"We want a peace that is just and honorable and allows our people more space to develop their human potentials and values," the President said during the Asian Gathering of Muslim Ulama and Christian Bishops held last night at the Westin Philippine Plaza Hotel.

In her speech, the President enumerated three fundamental principles that govern the search for peace and development in Mindanao.

First, she said, is that peace and development are the twins that always go together.

Second, she added, "all our actions for peace and development are founded on the imperatives of sovereignity, national integrity and constitutionality."

Third, "we are a multi-ethnic society with a variety of religious and ethnic traits and traditions."

"Our multi-sectoral and multi-ethnic society can thrive only through social justice for all and institutionalized accommodation of ethnic traditions," the President said.

To these three fundamental principles, the Chief Executive added a fourth: "We unconditionally reject terrorism."

She cited the support of the Islamic world for the peace process which, she said, goes back a long way. She said that up to today the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) has stood by the Filipino people.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo reiterated Monday night that she welcomes a lifestyle check and other lawful checks on the First Family, saying it is "one way of promoting Godliness in our nation and in my family."

In an obvious dig at the malicious charges of corruption and money laundering against her husband, First Gentleman Atty. Jose Miguel Arroyo, the President stressed that the First Family has led a life of dignity and simplicity, adding that this is part of leading by example and a natural part of being President.

"This accords me the moral armor to act decisively on corruption and extravagance among public servants," she said during her speech at the 21^st Bishops-Ulama Conference and General Assembly held last night at the Westin Philippine Plaza Hotel.

"I invite the media and the people to join me in the crusade for good governance," the President said.

The first-ever gathering of Muslim Ulama and Christian Bishops in Asia, the President said, afforded her a chance "to promote Godliness in our nation"

"Let us resist and resolve internal conflicts among our respective creeds – Islam and Christianity—which are both founded on the love of God and the search for peace," the President said.

She said that for the first time in Asia, the Muslim ulamas, ustadz and imams, protestant bishops and pastors, as well as Catholic bishops, priests and lay leaders are convening to discuss common challenges affecting them and their relationships as Christians and Muslims in Asia and how to address these problems and concerns from the standpoint of their faith.

CARMONA, Cavite - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today led operatives of the Anti-Illegal Drug Task Force and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in raiding the biggest and most modern shabu laboratory in the country.

The President motored here from a fruitful visit to the Honda Parts Manufacturing Corporation where she inaugurated the company's Manual Transmission Plant at the Laguna Technopark in Binan, Laguna.

In her surprise visit at the Mountain View Industrial Estate in Barangay Bancal, Carmona, the President inspected the abandoned El Neuchi Household Manufacturing Corporation which turned out to be a modern shabu laboratory.

Found inside the building were 180 kilos of liquid shabu (being dried up), one big and modern shabu burning machine and other shabu paraphernalia.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Deputy Director General for Administration Edgardo Aglipay, Chief Superintendent Reynaldo Berroya, director of the PNP Civil Security Group; and Press Secretary Milton Alingod accompanied the President during the actual raid and ocular inspection at the building.

In an ambush interview, Aglipay said the raid was conducted by virtue of warrant of arrest issued by Judge Eduardo Tanguanco of the Carmona Regional Trial Court against five Chinese nationals identified as Tony Sy Go, Patrick Jao, Erick Tan, Willie Dug Ay and Frederick Gao.

Aglipay said the police failed to arrest the suspects, who apparently have left the premises even before the raid.

Berroya said the shabu laboratory was discovered by the police intelligence agents through the information given by the security guards of the Mountain View Industrial Estate.

Early this morning the President led the burning of 40,509 grams of confiscated shabu worth P81,019,740; 1,018.41 grams of marijuana worth P25,460; 24 grams of ephedrine worth P31,200; 100 morphine tablets worth P2,100; and two bottles of phentermine Hci at the Integrated Waste Management Incinerator Facility in Barangay Aguado, Trece Martirez City in Cavite.

The burning of the illegal substance is aimed at showing to the public that the government has a built-in process of disposing illegal drugs confiscated from drug syndicates.

At the same time, the President said it will help erase doubts from the minds of detractors that confiscated, seized or surrendered illegal drugs are being recyled or sold back in the streets.

BINAN, Laguna -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today inaugurated the state-of-the-art Honda manual transmission plant at the Laguna Technopark here, signalling the completion of Honda's two-billion yen investment made in 2002.

Upon her arrival at Honda Parts Manufacturing Corporation (HPMC) inside the Laguna Technopark, the President unveiled the marker of the transmission plant, followed by a 15-minute tour inside the plant. The President later signed her name in the monumental post, together with Honda Motors president Takeo Fukui.

Japanese Ambassador Kojiro Takano, British Ambassador Paul Dimond, Fukui, and HPMC partner Fernando Zobel de Ayala, vice chairman of Ayala Corporation, were among those who welcomed the President when she arrived here at around 12:15 PM.

After the inaugural ceremony and tour of the plant, the President took a 5-minute rest to watch the presentation of "Asimo," a computerized 4-feet-tall robot developed by Honda that came all the way from Japan.

Asimo performed the "Itik-Itik" cultural dance and demonstrated some steps on how to exercise.

The new Honda manual transmission plant employs some 120 new workers and has already started exporting its output to Honda plants in other ASEAN countries. Soon its export destination will be expanded to include Honda plants in Asia, Europe and North America.

The facility will generate an estimated annual earnings of P3.2 billion.

Since July 2002, the HMPC has exported some 10,000 manual transmissions to Honda's automobile plants within the ASEAN region.

With the completion of the new plant, production this year is expected to reach approximately 90,000 units, with an annual capacity to eventually reach 140,000 units.

"The opening of the new plant marks another milestone for Honda and its partnership with the Philippines, which started 30 years ago when we started distribution of motorcycles here. With today's opening of Honda's new transmission plant we fulfilled our commitment made to her Excellency Madam President during her visit to Japan," Fukui said in his welcome remarks.

I have read a copy of the Privilege Speech of Senator Panfilo Lacson before the Senate entitled "The Incredible Hulk," Chapter I. While I would have preferred to reserve comment until after hearing the Last Chapter of this fairy tale by Mr. Lacson, I think it would be remiss of me to allow the slander by Mr. Lacson of many innocent people to go without comment.

This so-called expose of Mr. Lacson was made with the pa-pogi grandstanding and self-aggrandizement at the expense of others that have characterized his entire career.

First of all, I use my office at LTA Building in Makati as my formal work place for my work as First Gentleman. When President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assumed office’ I chose out of delicadeza NOT to use Malacaņang as my principal place of work. This despite of the fact that Malacaņang has always provided facilities for the Presidential Spouse. I did not, and do not wish to give anyone cause to think that I am in any way interfering with the Office of the President. Everyone knows this. My offices at LTA Building are open to all. That is not a secret.

Second, EVERYONE is welcome to visit me at my LTA Offices. My visitors, in addition to Mr. Lacson’s maliciously selective list, have included other Senators, Congressmen, priests, nuns, journalists, sports heroes, and many beneficiaries of the charity projects of the Office of the First Gentleman. Mr. Lacson has obviously placed my office under constant surveillance, which explains the heightened reports of suspicious characters and vehicles around our premises.