The capture of Commander Robot is another heavy blow to the Abu Sayyaf, which has been heavily decimated by military operations.

The group is weary and on the run.

Relentless pressure is taking its toll and we will keep it up until all the terrorists are accounted for and they no longer pose a threat.

I commend the troops who were involved in this operation.

The AFP is determined to finish the job against the Abu Sayyaf even as we pursue a second front against the clandestine cells of the JI.

Our law enforcers shall strictly implement their mandate with professionalism and upright conduct.

They have been apprised of clear rules of engagement.

Civil rights will be protected but armed persons or groups that dare and resist the authorities shall be engaged.

I ask our people for cooperation and patience as we undertake this massive drive for law and order.

This is for your own good. PNP commands in the outlaying areas must also be on the alert as criminals avoiding the dragnet in Metro Manila may take their activities elsewhere.

The lethal-injection chamber is for those convicted with finality of kidnapping and high-profile drug cases, and lawfully scheduled for execution.

Official Development Assistance (ODA) funds are important in pump-priming the economy. Such funds are used by the government for infrastructure projects and crucial socio-economic programs for the poor.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s administration, through good and transparent governance and sound fiscal policies, has enabled the Philippines to avail more ODA funds than ever before.

The country’s increased absorptive capacity of the credits and grants of ODA has enabled it to stay away from excessive loan assistance to be used to pump-prime the economy.

The government’s disbursement of ODA funds for the first half of the year improved to $618 million, or a 28-percent increase from the $485 million released in the same period last year.

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said that disbursements from the three major funding agencies -- Japan Bank for International Cooperation, Asian Development Bank and the World Bank -- hit $565 million, exceeding the $458 million target.

World Bank-assisted projects posted the highest increase in disbursement level at 31 percent with $105 million from last year’s $80 million.

Government-owned and-controlled corporations (GOCCs) and government financial institutions (GFIs) disbursed $302 million, a 39 percent increase while national government agencies disbursed $264 million accounting, or a 10 percent increase.

Moreover, non-budgeted dependent projects also improved their performance with a 54-percent rise in actual disbursement. The NEDA also said that a three percent increase was recorded in disbursement for budget-dependent projects.

With the government’s prudent allocation of ODA funds, the NEDA has recommended that the government focus on improving the performance of ADB-assisted projects.

It was noted that while ADB and WB have almost the same loan exposure (ADB with $1.6 billion and WB with $1.4 billion), ADB disbursement is only 43 percent of WB disbursement for the first half of the year.

The NEDA also urged the GOCCs and GFIs to sustain the improvement of their level of disbursement since they are not constrained by the national government budget.

The Macapagal-Arroyo administration’s improved monitoring of projects and transparent process of procurement has ensured better infrastructure delivery and capability building programs financed by ODA funds, which translated the strong economic growth of the Philippines.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today paid tribute to His Eminence Jaime Cardinal Sin, calling him the "prophet of our times," as she conferred on him the Order of Lakandula, with the rank of Bayani (Grand Cross), in simple ceremonies held at the Ceremonial Hall of Malacaņang.

In a testimonial lunch, the President said the Cardinal’s entire life has been worthy of his anointment as the prophet of our times as he has lived the virtue of fearlessness and charity straight from the heart.

The President pointed out that in the events of EDSA 1 and EDSA 2, the nation saw the hand of God in the acts of men.

"If Moses was Yaweh’s instrument to show his hand during the journey of his chosen people to the Holy Land, Cardinal Sin was the Lord’s instrument to show his hand in EDSA I and EDSA 2," the President said.

For his part, the Cardinal thanked the President for the award and for the luncheon tendered on his behalf.

"I do not deserve this. I accept it with gratitude and I assure you of my steady support," the Cardinal said.

"My brother bishops and I assure you that we will be your guiding pastors, always for the glory of God and for the good of the nation," Cardinal Sin added.

The President described the Cardinal as her shepherd in the struggle for leadership and sacrifice. "He supported me in the steepest trials of my administration," she said.

According to the President, it was the Cardinal’s exhortation that affirmed the reflection of her own discernment on the call of moral duty to stand beside and for the people.

The President said the good Cardinal sent word for her to stand fast against the rioters, which she did.

"After the aborted Oakwood incident, the Cardinal’s words poured forth in condemnation of the injustice done against the Constitution and the Republic. Those words are important so that future adventurisms will not be so bold," the President said.

Emphasizing that the clarity of the Cardinal’s vision has lit up the horizon of good governance and social reform, the President expressed confidence that His Eminence will continue to do so as he graduates to the role of statesman of the Church.

"I shall continue to look to him for inspiration not only in the difficult task of fundamental reform, but more so in the more awesome challenge of reconciliation," the President said.

Present during the testimonial lunch were former President Corazon Aquino, Vice President Teofisto Guingona, Jr., Senate President Franklin Drilon, members of the House of Representatives and the Senate, the Supreme Court and several members of the Cabinet.

Malacaņang today said that the first to be executed in January after the lifting of the moratorium on death penalty are those convicted of high-profile kidnapping and drug-related cases as it stressed that the decision to resume implementation of the death penalty law was made "for the sake of higher national interest."

In a radio interview, Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye also appealed to the public for understanding in the wake of Malacaņang’s decision to bring back capital punishment.

"Alam po ninyo, itong desisyon na ito ay isang mahirap na desisyon (You know, this is a tough issue)," Bunye said. "At talagang pinag-isipang mabuti ng ating Pangulo and she had to prayed over it for sometime (And the President really took time and prayed over it)."

President Macapagal-Arroyo lifted Friday the moratorium on the execution of death convicts as a deterrent to the commission of heinous crimes and to give justice to the victims. Some quarters, notably the Church, voiced their objections.

Bunye said that since the public is divided on the issue, it is only but natural that there will be criticisms whichever way the decision goes. And the President has subordinated her private beliefs to higher public interest.

"Pero di bale na po iyan, that’s accepted (Anyway, that’s a given)," he said, referring to the criticisms. "Ang pinapairal po ng ating Pangulo ay iyong inaakala niyang higher national interest. At ito ay base po dito sa mga nakaraang pangyayari na sunod-sunod po ang insidente ng mga krimen (What is given more importance by the President is what she believes is the higher national interest based on the latest rash of crime incidents)."

Bunye said that even the Chinese community, which has suffered the brunt of the kidnappings, is divided on the issue of capital punishment as admitted by its spokesman Teresita Ang-See, who also heads the group, Citizens Action Against Crime.

This, according to Bunye, belies claims that the President made the decision to look good on the part of the Filipino-Chinese who have been crying justice for the death of their beloved relatives

Bunye had earlier stated that 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," he said.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) to speed up its investigation of unsolved killings of journalists over the last 10 years even as she raised P1 million reward money for the solution of each of the cases.

In a speech read for her by Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye at the Eighth National Press Congress being held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Pasay City, the President cited statistics gathered by the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines, a non-government organization monitoring the welfare of mediamen nationwide, showing that 42 media practitioners have been slain since 1986, an average of three murders a year.

She also said that records at the National Press Club showed that 11 media practitioners were killed over the past two years.

The President then urged the people to vote wisely in next year’s elections. "The right to vote carries with it the right of the people to know their candidates better, and thereby secure their future with greater certainty," she said.

"You have become dangerous men and women to those who have unlawful secrets to hide, but the sad plight that has befallen some of your colleagues should never discourage you from seeking the truth and letting the public know about it," the President told delegates to the congress organized by the Publishers Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PAPI).

She viewed the role of the press as a "guidepost of information" and a "vanguard of reform in the community. "I feel truly saddened that a number of journalists have been slain for exposing the truth to our people," she added.

President Macapagal-Arroyo stressed that the May 2004 elections "would be another test of the power of media to influence events."

She also described the lifting of the political ad ban in 2001 as a "victory of the people in their bid to strengthen the instrument of suffrage," adding that the lifting of the ad ban was part of her continuing commitment to promote clean, honest, orderly and peaceful elections.

"If there is one thing you can help me promote to the electorate, it is not my candidacy, but the assurance of clean, honest, orderly and peaceful elections," the President told to the journalists.

She enjoined the press to help in educating the voters to enable them to make an "enlightened choice."

"But the challenge I leave to you, especially among the community press, is to balance the stories on intrigues and mudslinging usually associated with political campaigns, enlightening our people on the candidates’ platforms and stands on issues which have far-reaching implications about their future," the President said.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today sought the support and cooperation of the media to reach out to the people pertaining her "agenda of governance" and appeal for reform and reconciliation.

"To really develop our economy and create a stronger republic, we need to change our system and institute reforms in our politics and our economy," the President said in a speech read for him by Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye at the Eighth National Press Congress at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Pasay City.

According to the President, the country’s historic problem had been the need for economic development to fight poverty. "This cannot be blamed on any single President because it has been caused by our economic and political system," she noted.

The President said her experience as a national leader over the past two and a half years had shown her the need to institute five fundamental reforms virtually covering all aspects of the national life.

The changes, Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo said, were needed in the capital market to create more jobs and equitable opportunities, in agriculture to give the farmers and fisherfolk a break in survival and prosperity, in social assets to spread out common goods more equitably, in the bureaucracy to institutionalize good governance, and in the protective institutions to preserve national security and the rule of law.

"We must remain committed to our collective vision of a just, democratic society under a strong Republic. We must work together with greater determination to meet our goals," the President said.

She identified her objectives as the reduction of the number of poor Filipinos by about 50 percent, attaining unity and lasting peace, setting in place reforms in structure to make them more responsive to the needs of the people, sustenance of the rule of law and stamping out terrorism and other obstacles "on the path to equitable growth and development."

"To do all these, we must unite as one people," Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo stressed.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today congratulated government troops who captured Galib Andang, alias Commander Robot, of the Abu Sayyaf, saying it was a heavy blow to the notorious group.

"I commend the troops who were involved in this operation," the President said in a statement. "The AFP is determined to finish the job against the Abu Sayyaf even as we pursue a second front against the clandestine cells of the Jemaah Islamiyah."

The President described the group heavily decimated by military operations as weary and on the run.

The President congratulated the National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force (NAKTAF) headed by Secretary Angelo Reyes, the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces (ISAFP) headed by Commodore Tirso Danga, and Gov. Yusup Jikiri of Sulu who helped put together the civilian component in the operation.

In faithful adherence to the Yuletide season’s spirit of peace, reconciliation, and goodwill, I am declaring a Suspension of Offensive Military Operations (SOMO) against the CPP/NPA/NDF which shall commence from the first hour of December 10, 2003 until midnight of January 6, 2004.

I am firmly committed to a principled pursuit of peace and the resolution of conflict through non-violent means. The SOMO is aimed at further opening the door towards meaningful peace negotiations with the NDF.

In accord with the imperatives of national security, we will continue to explore all avenues of peace in our continuing efforts to promote political stability and economic progress for the Filipino people.

I have directed the Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines, to formulate the necessary guidelines for our soldiers during the SOMO. The guidelines will not only ensure that all our troops abide by, and respect our unilateral declaration of the SOMO, but also for our soldiers to continue the conduct of active defense measures for their safety and security, as well as for the protection of vital government installations and the civilian communities.