I shall no longer stand in the way of the executions scheduled by the courts for January 2004.

Much as I am averse, as a matter of moral principle, to the taking of human lives in this manner—the President must yield to the higher public interest when dictated by extraordinary circumstances.

The pain of victims of heinous crimes has spread all over the national community and I shall not turn my back against the cry for just retribution under the law.

I seek understanding from those who may detract from my decision.

I have ordered the DILG and the Napolcom to settle any misunderstandings, controversies or grievances in the ranks of the PNP, as I call for the observance of strict discipline within the police organization.

There are mechanisms to resolve these grievances under rules of due process.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today cited the Bicol River Basin Development Program as one of the many programs her administration is pursuing to spur economic development and lift the quality of life in the region which is considered to be the second poorest in the country.

It is the first regionwide development program for Bicol in a very long time, the President said in a radio interview this morning.

The President set the project, that will be funded by foreign institutions and the national government, into motion after her visit to the United States in May this year. Details of the program are being studied with Bicolano officials involved, she added.

"This would spur the economic development of Bicol," the President said.

She also cited anti-poverty programs like the KALAHI (Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan) which provides comprehensive and integrated delivery of social services, National Food Administration (NFA) stores to provide cheap rice and fish to the poor, the electrification of the barangays, and provision of initial funds from the coconut levy for the coconut industry.

The President said the railroad tracks between Naga and Legaspi City have been rehabilitated and that they are now acquiring new trains for the speedier transfer of goods from Albay to Camarines Sur and nearby provinces while minimizing traffic along the highway.

There are also a number of land reform programs in the region that include apportioning certain properties of the Philippine National Railway for squatters.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today cited the Bicol River Basin Development Program as one of the many programs her administration is pursuing to spur economic development and lift the quality of life in the region which is considered to be the second poorest in the country.

It is the first regionwide development program for Bicol in a very long time, the President said in a radio interview this morning.

The President set the project, that will be funded by foreign institutions and the national government, into motion after her visit to the United States in May this year. Details of the program are being studied with Bicolano officials involved, she added.

"This would spur the economic development of Bicol," the President said.

She also cited anti-poverty programs like the KALAHI (Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan) which provides comprehensive and integrated delivery of social services, National Food Administration (NFA) stores to provide cheap rice and fish to the poor, the electrification of the barangays, and provision of initial funds from the coconut levy for the coconut industry.

The President said the railroad tracks between Naga and Legaspi City have been rehabilitated and that they are now acquiring new trains for the speedier transfer of goods from Albay to Camarines Sur and nearby provinces while minimizing traffic along the highway.

There are also a number of land reform programs in the region that include apportioning certain properties of the Philippine National Railway for squatters.

The transfer of the Department of Agriculture to Mindanao as part of government efforts to maximize the island’s potential as the country’s food basket will all depend on the availability of funding.

This, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo emphasized today as she allayed fears of massive movement of government personnel in a radio interview this morning.

"It all depends on the funding," the President said, adding that it will only be Agriculture Secretary Luis "Cito" Lorenzo and a small staff who will be transferring immediately to Mindanao.

She bared that Secretary Lorenzo is looking at the Central Bank office in Davao City to be the new office of the Agriculture Department.

Lorenzo will leave an agriculture undersecretary for the Visayas and another undersecretary for Luzon when he starts holding office in Mindanao.

The President, in earlier pronouncements, said she is making the transfer of the office of the Agriculture Secretary as a symbolic step to show the importance she is giving to the development of Mindanao.

The transfer, she said, will also mean the entry of more investments to the region, especially in the field of agriculture.

In her speech at the inauguration of the new Davao International Airport recently, the President said that agricultural policies must emanate from Mindanao, not Manila.

The President also explained that it is difficult for regional directors to put the money together because every department has its own budget deficit.

"And we can’t spend very much beyond our deficit ceiling," she said.

Two of the top kidnappers on the Order of Battle of the National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force (NAKTAF) were presented today to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo by NAKTAF chief Angelo Reyes at Camp Crame.

The President congratulated Reyes and Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, Director General Hermogenes E. Ebdane, for scoring a twin blow against kidnap-for-ransom syndicates.

"I congratulate the regional directors of the police and whole taskforce for their accomplishment," the President said.

The President said that the arrest of the two kidnappers shows that cooperation between the national government, local government units and communities is crucial to the government’s all-out campaign against kidnapping syndicates.

"I am not vowing that we will have a kidnap-free Christmas. What I am saying is that there are things that must be done, if we want to have a kidnap free Christmas," the President said.

Presented to the President were Vilmor Catamco of the Fajardo KFR Gang and Allan Niegas, a suspect in the Letty Tan kidnapping case.

Catamco, who is wanted for his involvement in the Mae Ling Ang kidnapping in 2001, was arrested last December 2, 2003 in Barangay Bolod, San Pascual, Masbate by combined elements of NAKTAF and Police Regional Office 5.

Allan Niegas, a member of the notorious Waray Group, and suspected of being involved in at least 8 KFR cases, was arrested last December 4, 2003 in Barangay Culasi-An, Capoocan, Leyte by elements of NAKTAF and PRO-5.

"We will remain unrelenting and we are reaping the results of this siege on kidnap-for-ransom syndicates," Reyes said.

Reyes said, "I would like to thank the media for its support in the task force’s thrust to stamp out kidnapping. I believe that with the assistance of the citizenry and the media, our efforts to eradicate kidnapping will not fail."

He said that the media and the public are formidable allies against the kidnapping menace, adding, "Let us all join in the government’s objective to rid the country’s streets of criminality".

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today lifted the moratorium on the execution of death convicts as a deterrent to the commission of heinous crimes and give justice to the victims.

In another move, the President granted conditional pardon with parole conditions to 12 prisoners.

"Much as I am averse, as a matter of moral principle, to the taking of human lives in this manner, the President must yield to the higher public interest when dictated by extraordinary circumstances," the President said.

The President indicated that the incidence of heinous crimes has increased and she could no longer ignore the suffering of the victims as they cry out for justice.

"The pain of victims of heinous crimes has spread all over the national community and I shall not turn my back against the cry for just retribution under the law," the President said.

She asked for understanding from the pro-life advocates who may disagree with her decision.

"It is time for me to take a stand for the people," she clarified.

The President’s move came in the wake of a resurgence of kidnapping-for-ransom incidents and bank robberies over the past months.

She earlier reactivated the National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force (NAKTAF) and named former Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes as head of the elite unit to run after the kidnap syndicates.

Two convicted kidnappers are scheduled to enter the lethal injection chamber at the National Penitentiary in Muntinlupa City on January 30.

The Supreme Court has affirmed the capital punishment on 165 inmates, 32 of whom have warrants of execution.

The execution of death convicts by lethal injection was suspended shortly after Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo took over the reins of governance in January 2001 following the downfall of the Estrada presidency.

The last to be executed before the moratorium took effect was rapist Alex Bartolome who was given the lethal injection on January 4, 2000.

In a press briefing at Malacanang, Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said most of the pardoned prisoners were over-age, while some were seriously ill as reported by three physicians.

National Anti-Kinapping Task Force (NAKTAF) chief Secretary Angelo Reyes today said three security measures will be implemented in Metro Manila starting Monday in line with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s desire for a kidnap-free Christmas season.

These are the setting up of checkpoints, accosting of suspicious-looking vehicles, and deployment of more policemen on the streets.

These three measures will be implemented in coordination with local government units and officials in the National Capital Region, Reyes said this morning in a briefing at Camp Crame in the presence of the President.

The President also clarified that she did not promise a kidnap-free Christmas. "What I have said is that there are things that must be done if we want a kidnap-free Christmas. So the vow does not come from me because one person cannot stop kidnapping alone," she said in the briefing.

"And it shows that we need the cooperation and teamwork of the national government agencies, the local government units and the community," the President further said.

Reyes said that the measures were planned in a meeting together with members of the Chinese community and four agencies of the government involved in anti-kidnapping and anti-crime drives, as he called on the public to cooperate in their implementation.

Reyes said he has coordinated with the National Capital Region local executives, saying the scheme will be implemented and supervised "very closely every hour of the day."

Reyes also took the occasion to inform the public that cars without plates will be accosted, questioned and impounded if they have no valid reason not to have no plates.

He said suspicious looking vehicles, including those heavily tinted, will also be accosted and questioned and their plates should match with that in the vehicle’s registration.

Reyes gave the assurance that the checkpoints will not inconvenience the public and that those manning them will do their job in a courteous but stern manner.

According to Reyes, policemen deployed in the streets will be accompanied by military personnel and tanodbayan from the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

President Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo today enjoined Philippine National Police (PNP) officials to observe the chain of command and avoid acts which give the organization a negative public image and contribute to demoralization in the ranks.

At the same time, the President directed the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) to look into the misunderstandings and controversies involving ranking police officials with the view of patching up their differences.

During a presentation of arrested kidnapping suspects in Camp Crame, Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo specifically told Police Director Eduardo Matillano and PNP Chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane to bury the hatchet.

President Macapagal-Arroyo decided to intervene in the PNP revamp issue to prevent a possible demoralization in the ranks of the PNP. She stressed that police officers should remain professional and abide by the orders of the PNP chief.

"Police officials must observe the chain of command and avoid grandstanding and laundering their complaints in public, because this creates a negative perception of the PNP and contribute to demoralization in its ranks," President Macapagal- Arroyo said.

She said there are mechanisms that can be used to resolve these grievances under the rules of due process.

"I have ordered the DILG and the NAPOLCOM to settle any misunderstandings, controversies or grievances in the ranks of the Philippine National Police, as I call for the observance of strict discipline within the police organization," the President said.

The in-fighting in the PNP took a turn for the worse when Matillano demanded the resignation of Ebdane, whom he accused of weak leadership and the cause of massive corruption in the police force.

On the reshuffle in the PNP, the President denied allegations that PNP officials close to her were spared from the revamp, which reportedly caused the infighting in the PNP.

"This reshuffle has long been planned and has nothing to do with palakasan or personal loyalties. This is the strategic response to the strategic challenge of high profile crimes," the President said.

President Macapagal- Arroyo also said that the PNP should undergo a continuing reorganization to fine-tune its capabilities in fighting crime.

Farmer-members of the party-list "Butil" today pledged full support for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, saying they want her to have a full six-year term so that the agriculture modernization program could be sustained.

The manifestation of support was made during the 5^th National Farmers Congress at the Grand Eastern Hotel in Quezon City.

The President, in her speech, said one of her administration’s paramount concerns is the plight of the Filipino farmers, adding that her government would continue to promote programs and projects meant to uplift the farmers’ quality of life.

"My administration spends at least P20 billion a year on agricultural modernization, the highest annual allocation in our history. The great part of this is for irrigation. We have also irrigated the biggest number of hectares in history," the President said.

She said her administration has focused on agriculture modernization because most of the poor Filipinos live in the countryside.

The President noted that the farmers have doubled their rice harvest, mainly due to a hybrid variety from China.

"Some 100,000 hectares are now planted with hybrid rice and we can attribute that massive growth of agriculture in the third quarter to the 20 percent growth in rice production, because of the hybrid rice," she said.

From 100,000 hectares, the President said that she wants to further expand the agricultural areas planted to hybrid rice to 600,000 hectares in the next two years.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today issued an order granting extra cash gift of P5,000 each to government employees who have rendered at least four months of service during the year and are still in active service as of October 31, 2003.

The President, in Administrative Order (AO) No. 254 signed today, said the windfall covers personnel of government-owned and controlled corporations, as well as government financial institutions.

Workers with less than four months of service will receive their cash gift, but on a pro-rated basis. Hence, those with three months service will get 40 percent, two months 30 percent, one month 20 percent and less than one month 10 percent.

AO 254 stated that it is government policy to improve the welfare of government personnel, and that the state is cognizant of the contribution of its employees in providing quality service to the people.

"In spite of the very limited financial resources, government agencies exerted commendable efforts in ensuring economy in the use of resources," Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo said.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today lauded operatives of the National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force (NAKTAF) and other police agencies for the safe rescue of a civil engineer who was kidnapped last December 3 in San Pablo City.

The President motored to the Police Anti-Crime and Emergency Response (PACER) headquarters at Camp Crame late this afternoon to personally congratulate the operatives who rescued Jose V. Naga, a 41-year-old civil engineer.

NAKTAF is headed by former Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes.

Early this morning, the President was also at Camp Crame where the Philippine National Police chief, Director General Hermogenes Ebdane and Reyes presented to her two top kidnappers who were captured by police operatives from two different areas in the country.

Those presented were Vilmor Catamco of the Fajardo kidnap gang and Allan Niegas, a member of the Waray Kidnap gang and suspect in the Letty Tan kidnapping case. The two are in the Order of Battle of the PNP.

Naga was rescued after an encounter this afternoon at Paliparan Tres, Dasmarinas, Cavite between police operatives and the kidnap-for-ransom group, resulting in the death of one of the kidnappers and the capture of two others. There was no casualty on the government side.

The remaining members of the group are now being hunted by the police.

Naga’s wife, Elsa, profusely thanked the President for the safe rescue of her husband. "Kung wala kayo, Madam President, baka patay na yong asawa ko (If not for you, Madam President, my husband would have been dead)," Elsa told the President.

Elsa said that the kidnappers demanded P5 million for her husband’s release, but said they did not pay the ransom and instead cooperated with the police for the rescue operations.