The President has asked for understanding in this most difficult decision, which was reached after much prayer and contemplation.

She had held her ground against the death penalty despite an earlier commitment to push through with it in the case of kidnappers and drug pushers—but the situation has reached a point where the criminals are challenging the core of peace and order in our society.

The President is duty-bound to serve the public interest, which lies in according the people the option of just retribution for their own peace of mind.

Some may consider the death penalty too harsh but it is what is prescribed in the law, which in turn reflects the sentiments of the silent majority.

The rift has been resolved and we have removed any distractions or impediments to the stepped up anti-crime campaign.

The PNP shall no longer be saddled with internal controversy and will link up with the AFP to patrol the streets and beef up the checkpoints.

This will multiply our capabilities to check the incidence of heinous crimes, ferret out the most wanted, and engage roaming armed gangs.

More than honoring an international commitment as a founding member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will be visiting Tokyo on Thursday, December 11, to further strengthen Philippine-Japan economic and trade relations.

Since she assumed the presidency in early 2001, the President has considered Japan as a tried and tested economic partner, Japan being the Philippines’ number one source of official development assistance (ODA) and the second biggest trading partner, after the United States.

In fact, the first country that the President visited after ascending to the presidency was Japan, which she visited Sept. 12-15, 2001.

Along with the other nine leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the President would attend the two-day ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit to be held in Tokyo December 11-12.

The decision to hold the ASEAN-Japan summit in Tokyo was made during the ASEAN Summit in Bali, Indonesia on Oct. 8, 2003, which was also attended by the President.

In an interview with the Nippon Hoso Kyodai (NHK), the President said she is hopeful that during her visit, the negotiations for the Japan-Philippine Economic Partnership Agreement would be speeded up.

"I hope we can conclude it soon because I think that between the Philippines and Japan the relationship is not one of rivalry. It is more one of complementarity, " the President said.

The President explained that the Philippines is not asking Japan to open up its agriculture market to products from the Philippines. She emphasized that what Japan needs, and what the Philippines can offer, are young people who can act as care-givers for the older people of Japan.

"So, there’s very, very great complementarity and I believe that that should make our economic partnership agreement get concluded faster," the President said.

The President also assured the Japanese government that her administration is using the ODA from Japan wisely not only for the good of the Filipino people but also to promote Japan’s own concerns and devotion to democratic principles and market forces.

During her first day in Tokyo, the President will meet with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi where they are expected to discuss bilateral issues that would center of trade and economic matters.

The President will also meet with Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi where they are expected to talk about the upcoming resumption of the formal peace negotiations between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, Badawi’s predecessor, has been instrumental in the revival of the stalled talks between the MILF and the government. The talks are expected to reopen in Kuala Lumpur next month.

The President will also witness the signing of loan agreements for three big power projects with the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) with a total worth of $208.5 million.

The ASEAN-Japan Summit will be co-chaired by Koizumi and Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri, this year’s chairman of ASEAN.

The ASEAN leaders, including the President, have recognized the importance of ASEAN-Japan relations, which have been mutually beneficial and have matured for the past 30 years.

To strengthen this economic partnership, the ASEAN leaders and Prime Minister Koizumi signed during the ASEAN Summit in Bali the Framework for Comprehensive Economic Partnership between ASEAN and Japan.

During his visit early last year to the original five members of ASEAN, Koizumi proposed five initiatives to strengthen ASEAN-Japan relations based on the spirit of "acting together, advancing together."

Koizumi’s five initiatives to strengthen ASEAN-Japan relations are 1) education and human resource development; 2) comprehensive economic partnership (CEP); 3) initiative for development in East Asia (IDEA); 4) cooperation in transnational and security matters; and 5) designation of 2003 as ASEAN-Japan Exchange Year.

The ASEAN-Japan relations started in l973 and were later formalized in l977 with the establishment of the ASEAN-Japan Forum.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today handed out the Gawad Galing Pook Awards to 18 Outstanding Local Governance Programs in ceremonies held this morning at the Ceremonial Hall in Malacaņang.

In presenting the awards, the President was assisted by Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Eduardo Soliman Jr., National Selection Committee chairperson Dr. Cielito Habito, Galing Pook Foundation chairperson Milwida Guevarra, and UNICEF Representative Nicolas Alipui.

Also present during the awarding ceremonies were members of the diplomatic corps, local chief executives, and Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo, one of the founding members of the Galing Pook Foundation.

All the awardees received plaques of recognition while the Top 10 Awardees received cash prize of P100,000 each.

Leading this year’s awardees were the cities of Marikina and Naga and the provinces of Bulacan and Nueva Vizcaya which received the Awards for Continuing Excellence (ACE), the highest award given to local government units (LGUs) that, for five consecutive years, have developed and sustained a culture of excellence within its locality.

The Top 10 Outstanding Programs went to Batangas Province (Rehabilitation of Pansipit River), Bohol (Bohol Coastal Law Enforcement Council), Bulacan (Panlalawigang Komisyon Para sa Kababaihan ng Bulacan), Cebu City (Support for Community Initiatives and Partnerships to Respond to Violence against Women and Other Gender Concerns), Iligan City (Missionville: Reliving the Bayanihan Spirit thru Multi-Partnership), Nueva Vizcaya (A Tool for Effective Criminal Justice System), Negros Occidental (Amlig Kabuhi), Negros Oriental with Bayawan City and the towns of Basay and Sta. Catalina (Inter-LGU-NGO partnership in Health Care Delivery), Quezon City (Effective Fiscal Management), and Barangay Tabok, Mandaue City (Barangay Waterworks System).

Other Trailblazing Programs went to Alicia, Isabela (Child-Friendly Local Governance); Angono, Rizal (Sa Turismo Aangat ang Angono); Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur (Child-Friendly Movement); Gonzaga, Cagayan (Dap-Ayan: Innovative Approach to Development); Malalag, Davao del Sur (Social Reform Agenda-Minimum Basic Needs Plus); Muntinlupa City (CRUSADA: Crusade Against Drug Abuse); Pasay City (Phil-health Plus); and Sta. Barbara, Iloilo (Ecological Waste Management Program).

Special citations were also given to Alicia, Isabela (Child Rights Responsive Local Governance); Cebu City (Gender-Responsive Local Governance); and Marikina City and Naga City for Good Urban Local Governance.

This year’s Galing Pook search was a joint initiative of the Galing Pook Foundation, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Local Government Academy (LGA), and the Ford Foundation.

Sa nakaraang linggo ay nakita natin ang maraming positibong kaganapan na bunga ng ating lalong pinaigting na pagpapatupad ng batas. Kamakailan may nabawing biktima ng pag-kidnap at nahuli ang mga kidnapper. Bago ito, carnapper, kidnapper, bank robber ang napatay sa ingkwentro ng mga awtoridad. Naka-raid na naman ng mga laboratoryo ng shabu. Mahigit sampung bilyong pisong halaga na ang mga nakumpiska natin at libo-libong pushers, kasama ng ilang drug lords ang nahuli at nasampahan ng kaso. Ito ang pinakamagandang naitala sa kasaysayan ng ating laban kontra sa illegal na droga.

Ang ganitong paglilinis sa ating law enforcement ay ginagawa na rin ng National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force o NAKTAF, kaya may magandang resulta sa ating paglaban kontra sa kidnap for ransom. Mabigat ang labanang ito pero malaki ang ating tiwala sa suportang binibigay ng mga mamamayan. Ang ating stratehiya ay nagtatagumpay na at pati ang ating mga patrol ay nagbibigay ng magandang resulta. Naagapan natin ang pagtaas ng krimen at ipagpatuloy natin ito sa ibayong pagsisikap upang manatili ang kaayusan at katahimikan.

Hinihiling ko sa ating mga kababayan na kung may kahina-hinalang mga pagkilos sa inyong kapaligiran, ipagbigay alam agad ito sa mga kinauukulan. Salamat doon sa mga nakakita ng mga taong kamukha doon sa litratong pinakita ng mga wanted for kidnapping, dahil sa kanila mayroon tayong mga nahuling malalaking kidnapper.

Maging sa mga checkpoints tsi-checkin natin na ang mga nagsasagawa nito ay mapagkakatiwalaan at handang makipagtulungan sa mga nanunungkulan sa komunidad. Kung hindi sila naka-uniporme at walang name plate isumbong agad sa mga awtoridad.

Isa din sa ating mga pinagkakaabalahan ngayong linggo ay ang pagpapatuloy ng re-organisasyon ng ating pulis. Isa itong hakbang para lalong lumakas ang ating kampanya laban sa iba’t-ibang uri ng krimen. Matagal ng nakaplano ang re-organisasyong ito. Ito ay isang stratehiya sa pagsugpo sa mga pangunahing krimen sa ating paligid, tulad ng kidnap for ransom, drug trafficking, terrorism, carnapping at iba pa. May mga nababalitang scalawags in uniform, na sangkot sa kriminalidad, kaya patuloy nating nililinis ang hanay ng mga kapulisan, para matiyak na iyon lamang may integridad ang maiiwan sa organisasyon.

Ang pag-papairal ng integridad sa ating mga lingkod bayan ay hindi lamang natin itinataguyod sa ating mga pulis, kundi sa lahat ng mga ahensya, lalo na ang mga ahensyang maselan kagaya ng BIR at Customs. Ang koleksyon ng BIR ay patuloy na tumataas, dahil nga sa ating mga lifestyle check at saka iyong mga systems improvement. Ang BOC, dahil sa matagumpay nating anti-smuggling campaign, ay tumataas rin ang koleksyon.

Ang gumagandang imahen ng ating pamahalaan, ay isang dahilan kung bakit nakaraos ang ating ekonomiya, hambing sa ibang bansa at hambing sa mga nakaraang anim na taon. Ang investments ay tumaas ng 22% at inaasahan natin na pagkatapos maitayo iyong mga pabrika at mga call centers ay dadami ang trabaho.

Isulong natin ang reporma at pagkakaisa, serbisyo at mabungang gawain. Ang mga bagay na ito ay magtatagumpay kung patuloy tayong magtutulungan. Sa pamamagitan nito ay makakatiyak tayo ng kaligtasan at katiwasayan, na magbibigay daan sa pambansang kaunluran.

In less than a month, the government’s intensified anti-drugs campaign has conducted four raids resulting in the seizure of some P4.1 billion worth of shabu (methamphethamine hydrochloride) and assorted paraphernalia used in its manufacture and the arrest of a number of Chinese nationals behind the operations in Metro Manila alone.

During the six months intensified anti-drug operations that started last June, the government has seized illegal drugs, chemicals and equipment for the manufacture of shabu worth some P10 billion.

The successful efforts of "Oplan Banat," a nationwide anti-drugs campaign involving all law enforcement agencies, particularly the Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AID-SOTF) of the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), has drawn lavish praise from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

"I laud the police operatives for their successful raids that have resulted in the confiscation of billions of pesos worth of shabu and the continued arrests of drug manufacturers," The President said, as she vowed the government would continue to go after big manufacturers and clean the streets of drug pushers.

The President called the successful raids as a "triumph for the community and law enforcement units, working in tandem, and in secret, to pursue justice."

The latest of the raids came Friday (December 5) with P1 billion worth of shabu seized from a warehouse in Saniwares Compound in Evangelista St., Barangay Santolan in Pasig. Credit for this goes to the AID-SOTF and the PDEA.

Before that, was this twin kill in Nov. 21. First, there was this record P2 billion haul from a big compound in Barangay Mambungan in Antipolo City that also resulted in the capture of four Chinese nationals and a Filipino caught "cooking" shabu. This was another combined thrust of AID-SOTF and PDEA on what was considered to be the biggest shabu factory raided by the government.

Later on the same day, AID-SOTF swooped down on a warehouse of the Mahogany Marketing Corp. On MRR Road in Manggahan, Pasig. Some P100 million worth of shabu was confiscated and three Chinese nationals arrested.

The first of the raids resulting in bigtime hauls happened in Nov. 11 at a warehouse in Sto.Rosario, Mapulang Lupa in Valenzuela. It was the biggest haul till then with AID-SOTF and the Bureau of Immigrations netting P1 billion worth of shabu. Five Chinese nationals, all from Fujian, China, and a Filipino were collared.

It all really began on August 19 with a raid on an abandoned warehouse of the Neuchi Household Manufacturing Corp. at the Mountain View Industrial Estate in Barangay Bancal, Carmona, Cavite. Although no arrests were made then, the owner Chen Ziong Ziu, identified as a Chinese national was collared in November.

Found inside the warehouse that was then considered the biggest and most modern shabu laboratory in the country were 180 kilos of liquid shabu (being dried up), one big and modern shabu burning machine and other shabu paraphernalia.

At the conclusion of the raids, President Macapagal-Arroyo, in the company of PNP Deputy Director and AID-SOTF chief Gen. Edgar Aglipay, personally looked over the seized shabu and paraphernalia on the site to emphasize her administration’s unrelenting drive against syndicates engaged in the illegal drug trade.

"One reason why we are going down hard on the drug syndicates is to check their prospective influence on the elections next year. We cannot allow criminals to interfere in the democratic process or put their pawns in power," the President said.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today said the government would continue pushing for reforms, particularly within the Philippine National Police (PNP), to strengthen the government’s renewed campaign against crime.

"Matagal nang nakaplano ang reorganisasyong ito. Ito ay isang istratehiya sa pagsugpo sa mga pangunahing krimen sa ating paligid, tulad ng kidnap-for-ransom, drug trafficking, terrorism, carnapping, at iba pa (The reorganization within the PNP has long been planned. This is one strategy to stop the commission of major crimes such as kidnap-for-ransom, drug trafficking, terrorism, carnapping, among others)," the President said during her weekly radio address aired nationwide.

The President said the reorganization is expected to reinvigorate the public’s regard for the PNP by weeding out the scalawags in uniform, particularly those involved in heinous crimes.

The President said various reforms are also being implemented in other government agencies like the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

She said the lifestyle checks, anti-smuggling campaign, and other system improvements both within the BIR and the BOC have resulted in the increase in revenue collections.

She said that the improving public image is one of the factors why the country’s economic growth has surpassed even those of some of the world’s leading economies.

The President said the resulting influx of investors and businesses due to good governance would open more jobs for Filipinos.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is moving on the competitiveness "road map" presented by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) at the recent Philippine Business Conference (PBC).

The President has instructed Cabinet Secretary Ricardo Saludo to consult with relevant agencies on implementing the PBC resolutions.

The PCCI road map advocates five major thrusts:

• Massive livelihood programs for the poorest Filipinos, especially small farmers and fisherfolk

• Promotion of productivity and quality standards as well as world-class packaging among SMEs to make them globally competitive

• Linkage-building among businesses and between the private sector and local governments, to create vibrant communities

• Revitalization of the PCCI as the leading voice of Philippine business, by espousing its concerns, especially those of regional and local chambers

• Collaboration with and support for the Arroyo Administration’s programs for SME development and business competitiveness.

A key strategy of the PCCI road map is a draft program to boost the marketability of countryside and SME products through modern and attractive packaging design and technology.

The program was drawn up by former Trade and Industry Undersecretary and former Board of Investment and National Development Co. head Raul Hernandez, a member of the new PCCI board and former president of San Miguel Packaging Products.

"Hand in hand," says the President, "our government and the PCCI shall achieve world-class quality and productivity for our people and our enterprises."

Even now, the government and PCCI are collaborating on pilot programs based on the PBC road map.

In undertakings launched by the President in several provinces, PCCI in cooperation with the Department of Agrarian Reform is increasing the incomes of farmers and fisherfolk by organizing them into a reliable and highly productive supply value chain.

Last month, the President officiated the start-up of supply-chain programs for Laguna, Batangas and Quezon, with Cavite and Rizal to follow this month.

Priority regions for the first quarter of 2004 are Regions 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8.