Re Senator Villar’s Remarks

It’s an air ball. It’s way off the mark. In the first place, Senator Villar has his facts all mixed up. The Indonesian government never made any request for the custody of Al-Ghozi.

Furthermore, it would be illogical for the government to risk political fallouts just to accommodate the alleged request of a friendly government.

Re NBI

BARANGAY TABIAK, Igbaras, Iloilo – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo motored to this NPA-influenced barangay for a least one hour and 20 minutes in rough roads from Iloilo City to "bring development" to this remote area.

Upon arrival in Igbaras, the President first inaugurated symbolically small models of day-care centers located in Barangays Taytay and Sta. Barbara here in Igbaras.

The President also announced the construction of a similar day-care center in Barangay Tabiak.

She also witnessed a demonstration of how to hold a distance learning class in a far-flung barangay under the Strong Republic School program of her administration.

"I want that in remote barangays with no classrooms or no teachers, that teacher is the television," the President said in Ilongo, after turning over a key of a techno-van to Iloilo Governor Neil Tupaz.

The President herself turned the TV set on, signaling the launch of the Strong Republic School in this area.

The President said that today, July 16, is the first day of school in distance learning classes in Mindanao.

For a month, teachers were trained as para-teachers in the distance learning schools where special modules were developed.

Since the President launched the program the Strong Republic School in Iligan City last June 16, some 500 students here already enrolled.

BARANGAY TABIAK, Igbaras, Iloilo--President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today stressed the government’s two-pronged approach in solving the country’s insurgency problem.

During a provincial Peace and Order Council (POC) meeting held at a classroom in Tabiak Elementary School here, the President said the government’s strategy in fighting the New People’s Army (NPA) has a left and a right hand.

"The right hand is through the arm of the law, and the left hand is the hand of peace and development," the President said.

The POC meeting was attended by the local executives, top military and police officials and the members of the presidential party, which included Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina, Jr., Secretary Teresita Deles, lead convenor of the National Anti-Poverty Commission, and Press Secretary Milton Alingod.

The President said the Peace and Order Council should specifically address areas with peace and order problems, such as Barangay Tabiak that is reported to be an NPA-influenced area.

Where there is no peace and order problem, the President said the left hand is very well taken cared of by the regional and provincial development council.

The President said that her visit to the towns of Alimodian and Sta. Barabara in Iloilo were "pure development" trips.

The President directed the local officials to be aware of the 24-hour Area Coordinating Center (ACC) that has been set up in the Capitol building in Iloilo City.

She said that the ACC should also monitor what the left and the right hands of the government are doing. The ACC should also monitor the insurgency and drug problems, she added.

But the President emphasized that Iloilo is a relatively peaceful province where there is no "jueteng," illegal fishing, and has enough schools, and with a "very small insurgency problem."

"In monitoring the insurgency, you will not only monitor the right hand; you’ve got to monitor also the left hand," the President said.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered today the creation of an independent fact-finding commission to get to the bottom of the recent escape of Indonesian terrorist Fathur Roman al-Ghozi and two other suspected Abu Sayyaf terrorists.

The fact-finding commission, to be composed of persons of unquestionable integrity and probity, will submit to the President the results of their inquiry 30 days from its constitution.

"We regret the negative repercussions of this incident and we shall get to the root of the matter," the President said. "If there was collusion, this is the gravest act against our national security done so far by persons within the government."

She urged Congress to include in the anti-terrorism bill, which is pending deliberations, a provision that would impose the harshest punishment possible to those found guilty of infidelity in the custody of terrorist suspects.

She said those found colluding with terrorists to enable the latter to escape detention "must suffer severely from their aiding these enemies of humanity."

Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye, in a press briefing, said Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo is now going through the list of those possible members of the fact-finding commission. Secretary Romulo is chairman of the Cabinet Oversight Committee on Internal Security.

"As soon as these prospective members confirm their acceptance of their nominations, we will make the appropriate announcement," he said.

On why the President ordered an independent probe, Bunye said the President feels the incident is not an ordinary police matter. "It’s an incident imbued with vital national interest that’s why she’s taking an extraordinary move of creating an independent fact-finding body," he said.

Bunye took exception to the comments of Sen. Manuel Villar that the escape was staged to allow the Philippine government to accommodate the request of the Indonesian government.

"It’s an air ball. It’s way off the mark. In the first place, Senator Villar has his facts all mixed up," he said. "The Indonesian government never made any request for the custody of al-Ghozi."

HINDANG, Leyte – Risky and dangerous. But nothing is impossible if one wants to help poor people living in remote and rebel-infested areas like Barangay Mahilum here.

This President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo demonstrated when she surprised Mahilum residents in a visit here.

The President arrived early afternoon on board the presidential chopper from Iloilo and spearheaded officials in delivering basic social services to the villagers.

In her brief impromptu speech, she told the villagers that the government has been doing its best to improve the quality of their lives and to bring development to their barangay.

"The government is really caring for you and we want to show to all of you that we are doing our best for the progress of your future," she said in the Visayan dialect.

In the middle of her speech, the President turned over to concerned persons a check for P100,000 to fund the construction of public toilets and another check for P200,000 for the livelihood project of 50 residents.

She further handed over a check for P100,000 to finance the construction of the water reservoir and the rehabilitation of fittings in Barangay Anolon and another P100,000 for the rehabilitation of fittings and expansion of the water system in Barangay Bulacan.

She also issued another P75,000 check to finance the construction of a rain water collection facility with roofing in Barangay Himokilan Island.

After her speech, she launched the Strong Republic School (SRS) Project and turned over the generator, television, VCD player and sets of instructional materials for the distance learning program to barangay officials.

The President observed a teaching demonstration conducted by para-guro or semi-teacher Gertrudes Claveria on 20 pupils in the Munting Nayon Elementary School here.

Later, she joined the municipal and barangay officials in a luncheon at the barangay chapel.

From Mahilum, the President visited Barangay Capudlusan, about two hours’ walk along the river bank of Hindang, and conferred with local officials inside the 43rd Infantry Batallion detachment of the Philippine Army.

After Capudlusan, she flew by helicopter to Tacloban City where she would stay for the night.