President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today prayed for blessings and the success of the upcoming Fourth World Meeting of Families to be held in the country from January 25 to 26.

In a prayer she recited during a eucharistic celebration at the Sunken Garden in the University of the Philippines in Quezon City, the President noted that the world meet, which was gathered by Pope John Paul II, would serve to protect, strengthen and develop the Christian family into becoming good news to all families.

The President, accompanied by First Gentleman Atty. Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo, daughter Evangeline Lourdes "Luli" Arroyo and Diosdado "Dato" Arroyo, also prayed that the participants be protected with God’s loving care.

"Pour down on them the light of your truth, the fire of your love, and the strength of your power so that everything they do will be pleasing to you and beneficial to families.

The President noted that God our Father willed to form the family through the marriage of a man and woman and the birth of children, the fruit of their love.

She said through the power of the Holy Spirit, the Son became man in the womb of the Virgin Mary, wife of St. Joseph.

"Thus you gave us the model of a God-loving and humane family. And now you bind a Christian woman and man in marriage to be the sign and channel of your love for the world, and of the love of Christ for his Church," the President said.

The eucharistic celebration, which was led by Monsignors Esteban Lo and Roberto Canlas, was attended by the faithful from all over Metro Manila.

Numbering into thousands, those who attended almost covered the expansive football field and garden, making the crowd a sea of white, red, green, pink, orange and yellow, the colors of the several parties from different cities and municipalities.

Following the mass, singer Jaime Rivera sang "Only Selfless Love," the theme song of the Fourth World Meeting of Families.

Also in attendance was Quezon City Mayor Feliciano "Sonny" Belmonte, Jr.

The Fourth World Meeting of Families follows the first in Rome (1994) during the Year of the Family, the second in Rio de Janeiro (1997), and the third in Rome (October 2000).

The meeting’s inspirational motto, "The Christian Family: Good News for the Third Millennium," was chosen by Pope John Paul II.

God our Father, you willed to form the family through the marriage of a man and a woman and the birth of children, the fruit of their love. Through the power of the Holy Spirit your Son became man in the womb of the Virgin Mary, wife of St. Joseph. Thus you gave us the model of a God-loving and humane family. And now you bind a Christian woman and man in marriage to be the sign and channel of your love for the world, and of the love of Christ for his Church.

Grant your abundant blessings on the Fourth World Meeting of Families, gathered by Pope John Paul II to meet together in our country, so that it may be successful, and serve to protect, strengthen and develop the Christian family into becoming good news to all families. Protect the participants of this meeting with your loving care. Pour down on them the light of your truth, the fire of your love, and the strength of your powers so that everything they do will be pleasing to you and beneficial to families.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today ordered the dismissal of at least five key officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) involved in the P139-million vehicle repair scam last year.

President Macapagal-Arroyo affirmed the December 19, 2002 recommendation of the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) that found the DPWH officials "guilty of dishonesty, grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service."

Ordered dismissed were Burt B. Favorito, director, Administrative Manpower and Management Service; Emily M. Tanquintic, director, Comptrollership and Financial Management Service; Abraham S. Divina, Jr. and Florendo B. Arias, director and assistant director of the Bureau of Equipment; and Oscar D. Abundo, director, Legal Services.

The dismissed DPWH officials were all presidential appointees within the jurisdiction of the PAGC.

The President’s move was in line with her efforts to rid the public service of graft and corruption and her thrust to institutionalize good governance.

The Palace said the Presidential Legal Counsel reviewed and concurred with the PAGC findings inked by PAGC Chairman Dario C. Rama and Commissioner Teresita D. Baltazar. Commissioner Cesar D. Buenaflor was on leave.

Besides outright dismissal, the errant DPWH officials were imposed the penalty of "forfeiture of retirement benefits and perpetual disqualification for reemployment in the government service."

Docketed as PAGC ADM-0095-02, the case stemmed from an audit report referred by then DPWH Secretary now Department of Justice Secretary Simeon A. Datumanong to the PAGC last June 23, 2002.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today ordered Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina, Jr. to speed up the investigation of an alleged hazing case at the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) that led to the death of Cadet Fourth Class Jeoffrey Andawi.

The President also directed Lina to immediately submit his findings and recommendations on the hazing, which allegedly was inflicted on six PNPA 4^th Class cadets and the victim.

The President said "no stones should be left unturned" to get to the root of the sad incident, as she called on PNPA officials to weed out errant cadets from the country’s premier police academy.

Earlier, the Silang police charged PNPA Cadet 3^rd Class Cadet Jomari Polquiso, 23, with homicide.

Reports said Polquiso also subjected to hazing lower-class cadets Christopher Diston, Neil Wadingan, Maximo Sumeg-ang, Jr., Martadio Bongngat, Kenneth Balisang and Rey Cayap Tad-o, all from the Cordillera Administrative Region.