President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today called on the people to remain calm but highly alert following the escape of an Indonesian bomb expert and two suspected Filipino terrorists from their Camp Crame detention cell.

In a speech in Alimodian, Iloilo where she launched several government projects, the President also directed Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina, Jr. to make full use of the media in generating public support for the manhunt for Fathur al-Ghozi, an Indonesian self-confessed member of the terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah, and suspected Abu Sayyaf members Abdulmukim Ong Edris and Omar Opik Lasal alias Meram Abante.

The government has offered P5 million in reward for the recapture of al-Ghozi, P2 million for Edris and P1 million for Abante. The President said she wanted the reward offer disseminated widely.

In Manila, National Security Adviser Roilo Golez also assured that the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and other security agencies are on high alert on orders of the President.

"We can expect al-Ghozi and the two others to lie low for a while, with all these forces running after them," Golez said.

The National Security Adviser assured that the government is taking measures to harden all possible targets of terrorists.

"This started yesterday (Monday) when news came out about the bombing of the Indonesian parliament (in Jakarta). This alert status will be sustained," Golez said.

NPA Ambush

The President sympathizes with the bereaved families of the soldiers who were ambushed in Bontoc.

The government will ensure that the perpetrators of such treachery will be brought to justice.

The President calls on the people and the leaders of the land, especially local government executives, to support the government’s comprehensive strategy to contain the insurgency. Together, we shall defeat terrorism and lawlessness.

Peace Talks with NDF

The government lines of communications remain open to those who are tired of the fighting, want to return to the fold of the law and rejoin their families.

Filipinos in Libya

The DFA and the DOLE, through OWWA, are on top of the situation. Secretary Ople has sought the help of the Libyan Ambassador to ensure the safety of our compatriots. He also instructed Charge D’ Affaires Benito Valeriano to immediately take this matter up with the local police and labor officials.

OWWA is currently coordinating with the recruiters and other concerned government agencies to determine the necessary actions required and assistance to be provided in case repatriation should be required.

Provincial Visit

In her visit, the President wants to see first hand the situation of our impoverished communities and assess the security and development of these areas. She will be launching various anti-poverty measures under the Kalahi program. She will be consulting with local government officials and civil societies for further enhance the anti-drug campaign.

She will promote distance learning in the remotest barangays.

ALIMODIAN, Iloilo -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today ordered the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to put up "a single, maximum security detention facility for high profile detainees within Camp Crame."

The President, in a statement here, said the facility should directly be "under the responsibility" of Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director-General Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr.

She chided the camp for "gaining notoriety for its very porous detention centers."

"It is becoming very hard to believe that these escapes of heinous criminals are the result of ordinary laxity," she said.

The President also directed officials to immediately file charges "against the culpable custodians, up to the highest level of command responsibility possible."

"We must pin the culprits down and find a permanent solution to this problem," she said.

The President made the statement after notorious terrorists Fathur Rohman Al-Ghozi, Abdul Mukim Ong Edris and Omar Opik Lasal bolted out of their detention cell in Camp Crame early Monday morning.

She also directed DILG Secretary Jose Lina, Jr. "to make full use of the media to generate public support for the ongoing manhunt (of the escapees), with widest dissemination of rewards."

The government has offered P5 million in reward for the recapture of al-Ghozi, P2 million for Edris and P1 million for Lasal.

Meanwhile, Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said the President was irked by the escape of the terrorists.

"Kaya nga’t hindi niya titigilan hangga’t hindi talaga malaman ang puno’t dulo nitong pagkakapuga ng mga preso (Which is why the President would not stop at anything to get to the roots of the prison escape)," Bunye said in his regular media briefing.

BACOLOD CITY -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today hailed the late Bishop Antonio Fortich as a pillar of peace in the country.

The President, in a visit here on the first leg of her three-day Visayas sojourn, attended the Requiem Mass for Bishop Fortich at the San Sebastian Cathedral, Archdiocese of Bacolod.

Expressing her condolences for the Bishop’s demise, she said the Bishop served as a vital link in the people’s search for peace and justice as he spearheaded the establishment of the zone of peace.

Speaking in Ilonggo, she recalled how people depended on the Bishop during times of troubles and crises and how the Bishop responded by making himself the guiding light on the right road for many of his flock.

"Here is an Apostle of God who followed in His steps, serving the poorest of the poor. Let us emulate his example," she said.

After the Mass, the body of Bishop Fortich was placed in a tomb at the right side of the Cathedral altar.

The Supreme Court decision in favor of the government in the case regarding the estimated $680 million of Marcos wealth held in escrow is a milestone in the people’s decades-long pursuit of justice.

The decision is likewise a welcome development for millions of landless farmers, since the law mandates that a big part of the ill-gotten funds should be used for land reform. The eventual release of the funds shall help in funding vital anti-poverty projects.

ALIMODIAN, Iloilo – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today told residents of this municipality that her administration is implementing several programs to address their needs, especially in the area of peace and development.

Speaking in fluent Ilonggo, the President said she visited the area to personally see to it that these programs are implemented and to find out what other things need to be done in Iloilo and in the rest of Panay Island.

The President saw to it that the P32-million Nichols Bridge in Alimodian is started, and that the development assistance provided to the proposed P10-million cable car or bi-cable tramline system to transport agricultural produce from the farms to the markets.

The bi-cable tramline system of Alimodian was designed primarily to eliminate the drudgery of manually hauling the vegetable products from the mountains where they are grown to the access road.

The President also announced the completion of the P18-million barangay energization project that will energize the whole Panay Island.

There is also the P10-million local water supply system and the P40-million road rehabilitation projects covering the three towns of Leon, Alimodian and San Miguel in Iloilo.

Meanwhile, the P5-million "Adopt-a-Mountain" program of the President was also launched here for rebel returnees.

The program, with the objective to accelerate the revegetation or regreening of Alimodian’s denuded-degraded mountains and rangelands so as to improve water yield capacity and timber production, is supported by 6^th district Representative Augusto "Boboy" Syjuco.

The Adopt-a-Mountain program is laid out in DENR Administrative Order No. 98-62 dated October 1, 1998 where denuded mountains are cited for regreening under the community-based Forest Management Strategy per Executive Order No. 263.

After having lunch with the local officials of Alimodian and the members of her official party, the President motored to Sta. Barbara Comprehensive National High School where she presided over a meeting on drug testing in schools.

After learning that a seven consultation meetings on drug testing have already been held, the President said it is about time that the implementation of what had been agreed should now start.

With the President during the visit were Education Secretary Edilberto de Jesus, Agrarian Reform Secretary Roberto Pagdanganan, Press Secretary Milton Alingod, Justice Undersecretary Merceditas Guiterrez, Education Undersecretary Ramon Bacani, and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Chief Anselmo Avenido.

The President will motor to Barangay Tabiak, Igbaras tomorrow to primarily witness the turnover of a Strong Republic School (SRS) techno van to the provincial government of Iloilo.