Good governance has come of age in our country through the sustained and diligent application of law and due process. We will fight corruption in the same degree that we are fighting terrorism and poverty. All the departments of government are gathering around this effort, fully supported by the private sector. It cannot be done overnight but we must have the political will and perseverance to follow through. These cases will have a strong influence on stemming leakages in expenditures and shoring up revenue collections. They have an effect on our economic stability as well as on our political security.

A youth organization has strongly condemned all politically-motivated exposes conducted by lawmakers in the guise of privilege speeches that are devoid of hard evidence and designed only to promote narrow and selfish personal interests.

In a statement, the Young Nationalist Patriots (YNP) said that lawmakers who abuse their immunity from suits to attack their political opponents and create confusion among the people are a disgrace to the institution they represent and should be considered traitors to their country.

The YNP was reacting to the a privilege speech by Senator Panfilo Lacson accusing First Gentleman Atty. Jose Miguel Arroyo for allegedly laundering more than P100 million, using the name "Jose Pidal."

The YNP said Senator Lacson should be the last person to hurl accusations against any Filipino "for he is a man that the youth should trust the least."

"We consider Lacson to be a dangerous man with a questionable past who will not stop at anything, including the further destruction of our nation, to promote his presidential ambition," the YNP said.

The youth group said the Philippines cannot forget the antics of another lawmaker, Mark Jimenez, who tried to escape deportation and certain conviction in the United States by abusing his privilege hour as a lawmaker by attacking the administration.

"After creating all kinds of gimmick to gain public sympathy expressing his innocence and going to the extent of destabilizing our country, he pleads guilty to charges hurled against him in the US," the YNP said.

The YNP said that so much energy and resources have been wasted on destructive politics.

I condole with the victims of the bombing in Iraq, especially two of our own who reportedly perished in the terrorist attack.

This assault on the United Nations office is an act against international solidarity for peace, democracy and freedom. The Philippines joins the international community in condemning it in the strongest terms, and in calling for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.

It is sad that the restoration of freedom to the Iraqi people continues to be hobbled by uncertainty in the face of these attacks.

We are not intimidated in the least in fighting side by side with the global coalition against terrorism to stop these criminal and inhuman acts in all continents and regions.

The Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) today said that Senator Panfilo Lacson should file charges in court if he has the goods on First Gentleman Jose Miguel T. Arroyo instead of raising a media spectacle that could hurt the country’s economy.

"Senator Panfilo Lacson as requested by the First Gentleman should bring his case to the court instead of raising a media spectacle that can only further hurt our economy as it also seems to defocus on charges that Lacson himself has to face," MAP president Ed Fereira said in a statement.

If evidence warrants, Fereira said Lacson should file charges and "let the courts and due process decide this political duel of charges and counter-charges."

As we mark the 20^th anniversary of the martyrdom of Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Fereira said we still see the same kind of politicking that Ninoy fought against and has died for.

"The best way to remember Ninoy is to push aside politics until election time next year and we should now all cooperate and concentrate to put our economy on track to recovery as a gesture of patriotism," Fereira said.

Lacson’s privilege speech in the Senate came at a time when the Senate was about to release a committee report about Lacson’s alleged involvement in illegal drug trafficking.

The First Gentleman has challenged Lacson to file charges and present evidence at the proper courts.

"I will face him there. Paraphrasing the late Ninoy Aquino, if you cannot file a case in court with hard evidence, you are a liar," Atty. Arroyo said.

The lawyers of the First Gentleman on Wednesday formally sent a letter to the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to conduct an analysis of the signatures of Atty. Arroyo and Jose Pidal to debunk the claim of Lacson that the Pidal account actually belonged to Atty. Arroyo.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today authorized the filing of graft and corruption charges against five top officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Bureau of Customs after investigation disclosed their ownership of tens of million of pesos worth of ill-gotten wealth.

Charged by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) were Undersecretary Salvador E. Pleyto of the DPWH, DPWH Region IV-B Regional Director Romeo G. Panganiban, Customs Deputy Commissioner Gil A. Valera, Deputy Collector Jaime P. Maglipon and Bureau of Customs Miscellaneous Division Chief Flor Aguilar.

Also charged were relatives and associates of the five accused officials who were found to be fronting for the ill-gotten wealth accumulated by the officials during their stint in government.

PNP Director Eduardo Matillano, CIDG Director, filed the case on behalf of the government.

The charges were a result of months of investigation conducted by the CIDG in coordination with the Transparency Group of the Office of the Presidential Chief of Staff of the Office of the President in line with instructions from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for the conduct of lifestyle check on all government officials.

The investigation found that Pleyto, who was appointed DPWH Undersecretary early this year, allegedly accumulated real estate properties in various barangays in Sta. Maria, Bulacan grossly disproportionate with his lawful income amounting to P16,686,673.20, and placed these properties under the name of his wife and children.

Pleyto was also discovered to have traveled abroad without permit nine times, while his wife traveled 17 times and children 11 times, all of which is estimated to have cost him P3.7 million.

Matillano charged Pleyto with violations of Section 8, 4(h) and 8 (a) of RA 6713 (Code of Ethical Standard for Public Official and Employees) Section 7 of RA 3019 (Statement of Assets and Liabilities) and for violation of Article 171 para 4 of the Revised Penal Code.

Matillano also asked the Ombudsman to file administrative charges for alleged violation of RA 1319, Section 7 of RA 6719, Section 7 of RA 3019, Article 171, para 4 of the Revised Penal Code and for violation of Executive Order No. 248 dated May 19, 1995;

Also charged with Pleyto were his wife Miguela and sons Russels and Salvador Jr.

Panganiban, on the other hand, was found to have accumulated the highest amount of ill-gotten wealth worth P81,701,000, including one residential house and lot located at Sacay Grand Villas, Batong Malake, Los Banos, Laguna worth P1.28 million purchased by Panganiban on June 28, 1994; a commercial four-storey building and lots located at Regidor Street, Sta. Cruz, Laguna; a residential house and lot located at No. 430 San Bartolome Street, Ayala Alabang Village, Muntinlupa City worth P24.8 million in the name of his sister Elsa Panganiban-de Luna; a three-bedroom house and lot located at No. 2840 Heritage Drive, Pasadena, Los Angeles, California worth US$300,000.00 (P15 million) in the name of his wife Fe Panganiban and daughter Geraldine Panganiban; a modern cockpit (ARGEM Sports and Amusement Corporation) located at Brgy. Bubukal, Sta. Cruz, Laguna estimated to be worth P30 million with his sisters and brothers-in-law as stockholders; and a residential lot measuring 200 sq. m. located at Brgy. Calios, Sta. Cruz, Laguna worth P146,000.00.

Panganiban faces charges of violating Section 4 (h) and 8 (a) of RA 6713 (Code of Conduct of Ethical Standard for Public Official and Employees) Section 7 RA 3019 (Statement of Assets and Liabilities-Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and Article 171 para 4 of the Revised Penal Code.

Panganiban is also liable for violation of RA 1319 (III-Gotten Wealth Act) in relation to Section 8, RA 3019, together with his wife Fe, daughter Geraldine, sisters Elsa P. de Luna and Purita P. Sarmiento, and brothers-in-law Ricardo O. Obligacion, Eddie Opulencia and Romeo de la Virgen.

Valera, on the other hand, was found liable for entering into a compromise agreement with Steel Asia Manufacturing Corporation without proper authority from the Commissioner of the Bureau of Customs, causing losses for the government of uncollected taxes and duties amounting to P14,762,467.70.

He was also found to have violated conflict-of-interest rules by remaining a co-owner of Cactus Cargoes Systems, a brokerage firm, with his brother-in-law Ariel Manongdo.

Aguilar, on the other hand, was found to have not declared in her annual Statement of Assets and Liabilities the following pieces of property; a house and lot located of Blk 21 Lot 6 BIR Village, Fairview, Quezon City worth P1 million; a condominium unit with address at Unit 1007-A Antel Seaview Towers, 2626 Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City worth P12 million; a residential lot located at Panicuason, Naga City worth P148,200.00; and several luxury vehicles, including a Honda CRV with plate number BIM-888 worth P1 million, an Isuzu Trooper with plate number HRH-659 worth P1.5 million, a red BMW car and a silver BMW car.

World-renowned religious leaders today assured President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of continued moral support in her government’s efforts of promoting peace, security and development in the country.

The assurance was made at Malacaņang this morning following the gathering of 14 states from Asia and other parts of the world attended by Christian bishops and Muslim ulamas.

Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald, president of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, and Indonesian Cardinal Julius Riadi Darmaatmadja told the President that the role of religious leaders is vital in finding durable and lasting global peace, including in the Southern Philippines where there is a continuing conflict between Muslim and Christian Filipinos.

The President, in turn, thanked the religious leaders for their important role in bringing the world closer to peace.

Dr. Mohammad Ahmad Sharief, general secretary of the World Islamic Call Society (WICS), the conference’s guest of honor and speaker, met the President in a separate private audience.

WICS is a Libyan non-government organization engaged in humanitarian and charitable undertakings in the world.

Sharief told the President that they intend to extend special help to the Philippines in terms of health and medical services as part of the administration’s continuous efforts to uplift the lives of the people in Mindanao.

"My endless gratitude to your move of helping us bring peace in our country, especially in Mindanao," the President said in return.

She said that she was pleased over his group’s program of peace, development and security in the Philippines.

The three religious leaders were in Manila to speak before the gathering of world religious leaders from several countries in the three-day (Aug. 18-20) international event organized by Presidential Adviser on Special Concerns Norberto Gonzales.

First Gentleman Jose Miguel T. Arroyo today finally broke his silence over the allegations hurled against him by Senator Panfilo Lacson that he amassed millions of pesos from campaign money and other anomalous transactions

"Take me to court," this was the very terse statement and challenge of the First Gentleman to the opposition senator after Mr. Arroyo finally agreed to meet with the media at his office in LTA Building, Perea St., Makati City at noon today.

In a statement released to media, the First Gentleman said he welcomes the certification released by the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) stating that there are no accounts in his name or in the name of Jose Pidal in its Perea Street branch, which was closed four years ago.

"The release of the certification clearly belies Senator Lacson's allegation that there is a bank statement dated July 30, 2003 allegedly showing millions in the name of Jose Pidal," Mr. Arroyo said.

"How could there be such a bank statement if the bank has been closed for several years?" Arroyo asked.

Renewing his challenge to Lacson to produce the original documents proving the existence of said account, the First Gentleman said he would like to remind the senator that under the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) "any person who, with malice, or in bad faith, reports or files a completely unwarranted or false information relative to money laundering transactions against any person shall be subject to imprisonment and fine."

The First Gentleman is a lawyer; Lacson is not.

He also said such was a requirement of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) when the senator asked the body to freeze the alleged Pidal accounts.

Mr. Arroyo likewise asked the senator to produce the original documents bearing the signatures of Jose Pidal so that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory handwriting experts can analyze them.

He said his lawyers had earlier asked these agencies to do so as the comparison made by Lacson during his privilege speech using power point presentation could and should not be relied on.

"This is misleading, and obviously subject to alteration and digital manipulation," Mr. Arroyo stressed.

The First Gentleman also cited a retired NBI handwriting expert's analysis that it is unlikely the signatures presented by Lacson were made by the same person.

His family tree showed that on the paternal side his great-grandmother was named Maria Pidal and his grandfather was Jose Maria Pidal Arroyo. The First Gentleman confessed, however, that he was unaware of his great grandmother's maiden name but knew of his grandfather's name.

Upon his grandfather's death, he said his family moved to Negros from Iloilo, the reason why he only knew their relatives from Iloilo.

Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye today said we should put aside the Oakwood incident and instead concentrate on such problems as job generation and the threat of terrorism to move the country towards progress.

"Let’s move forward. Let’s concentrate on things that we need to do especially our campaign against terrorism and how to provide new employment. These are the things that we should concentrate on," Bunye said in a radio interview.

He said the Oakwood mutiny staged by the young officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) should be better left to the Feliciano Commission and other agencies tasked to investigate the incident.

When asked to react on the report that the Philippines has been identified as the fifth among the countries facing genuine threat from terrorist activities, Bunye said this only proves that terrorism knows no boundaries, race nor religion and those countries perceived to be vulnerable are easy targets of terrorists.

What is important, he said, is that we know that our country is a likely target and we have to be always vigilant. "Let’s always be alert, but not hysterical. We should keep our eyes and ears open," he said.