Malacaņang today confirmed that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had a meeting with opposition Sen. Edgardo Angara but denied that the President offered the Senate presidency to the latter as reported by one newspaper.

In an interview, Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said that any change in the leadership of the Senate is an internal affair of that body and the President did not want to interfere.

"Kung magkaroon, that’s internal among them, basta the President is keeping her hands off (If there will be changes in the Senate that’s their internal affair and the President is keeping her hands off)," Bunye said.

Bunye said that it was Angara who asked for the meeting and what they discussed was mostly about the legislative program of the President.

According to Bunye, during the meeting, Angara, who heads the mainstream opposition Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP), pledged to support the President’s legislative initiatives, especially those that would push the economy, alleviate poverty and reform the judiciary.

Bunye also appealed to the public to give incoming Press Secretary Hernani Braganza a chance to prove his worth. "I think he will fit well. Let’s just give him time to adjust," he said.

He explained that as presidential spokesman, he and Secretary Braganza would be closely working together since by the nature of their jobs, they would have to have a "convergence of responsibilities."

Malacanang today spelled out the four principles that should be adhered to by any group or sector before it can join the government of national unity that has been broached by Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr.

In an interview, Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said the Cabinet Oversight Committee on Internal Security (COCIS) chaired by Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo has spelled out these "non-negotiable principles" as the basis for participation in the proposed government of national unity.

According to Bunye, these principles are 1) adherence to the rule of law; 2) adherence to the Constitution; 3) respect for the sovereignty of the Philippines; and 4) respect for the territorial integrity of the Republic.

Bunye said the COCIS met Tuesday to discuss the concept of a unity government as espoused by Speaker de Venecia, adding that the COCIS recommendation is now in the hands of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

He said that groups that do not subscribe to these four principles, like the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), could not join the envisioned government of national unity.

The CPP-NPA, which is still fighting the government, does not respect the rule of law or the Philippine Constitution, Bunye said. The communist rebels also do not recognize the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic, he added.

But opposition parties that adhere to the four principles are welcomed to join the new setup if they provide or offer assistance to the government, Bunye said.

In fact, according to Bunye, Sen. Edgardo Angara, head of the main opposition party, the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP), has already offered to collaborate with the administration.

Members of the Couples for Christ (CFC) have cited and thanked President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo supporting the CFC’s Gawad Kalinga (GK) program.

In a letter to the President, CFC council member Joe Tale said the President’s support to the GK "jumpstarted the program on a national scale."

The GK, a pro-poor program that has evolved into an initiative of nation building, hosts people-empowering activities geared towards building integrated, holistic and sustainable communities focused initially in depressed areas in the Philippines.

It has grown into a multi-sectoral partnership that has achieved community empowerment and massive mobilization for volunteerism.

Tale said President Macapagal-Arroyo’s grant of P30 million from the President’s Social Fund went to the construction and completion of 1,000 homes in some 76 GK sites nationwide during the June 2002 National Build program.

He noted the President’s attendance during the CFC’s 21^st anniversary celebration in Marikina City last year when the President made the grant.

Tale informed the President that CFC’s work along similar lines has continued.

"A National Build Part 2 was held last November 30 to December 1, 2002 utilizing resources of CFC members and the numerous partners both from the government and private sector here and abroad," he said.

National Build schemes would be conducted in June and November of every year, he added.

Tale stressed that the program "has shown what can be done if both government and the citizenry work together for a common objective."

A Metro Manila newspaper today carried the headline: "Mike’s ‘balut" brigade eyes 5M signatures for GMA."

The story is completely false and devoid of any truth. In flagrant violation of journalistic ethics, the newspaper did not even bother to get my side of the alleged story. It is apparent the article was meant to defame me and, indirectly, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, for reasons known only to the staff of the newspaper.

It is public knowledge that the President and I went to Plaza Olivia Salamanca in Paco, Manila, last January 6 to distribute free insurance policies to taxi drivers. Our visit did not have any political objective as the President has already disavowed last December 30 any plan to stand for election in 2004.

I wholeheartedly support the President’s decision to withdraw from partisan politics and to devote the rest of her term to strengthening economic reforms and fulfill her pledge to help build a strong Republic.

I do not wish to dignify the allegations in the news report any further. It is my fervent hope that this newspaper exercise press freedom more responsibly and keep faith with the ideals of fair and honest reporting.

Malacaņang today said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo would meet with members of the ruling Lakas party to enjoin support for the administration’s reform agenda.

But more than this, the President would ask her partymates to set aside partisan politics and to focus on getting their jobs done and serve their constituencies.

In his regular press briefing this afternoon, Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said the President intended to rally the Lakas party behind her program of good and effective governance.

He said the President also wanted to send across the message that the Lakas membership should "set aside partisan politicking and just take care of their constituencies; and in the end, their constituencies will take care of them."

Bunye said that the President would appreciate lesser talk about politics, as she wanted to devote more of her time to pursue her eight-point reform program.

"The President would like to stay away from political talk at this time. There are things that preoccupy the President’s time right now and she would like to devote as much of her time to pursuing her reform program," he said.