The AMLA needs no further amendments. The amendments, which were signed into law recently by the President, are deemed sufficient as they were the result of consultations between our legislators and representatives of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) countries who visited the Philippines. The amendments also conform to the standards of FATF as set forth in the letter of the FATF president dated February 27.

Note that even President George W. Bush has already congratulated the Philippine government for its sincere efforts to address the concern of the international financial community.

Just to clarify: What needs to be done by way of fine-tuning the process leading to our eventual removal from the list of non-complying countries is the formulation by the Anti-Money Laundering Council of implementing rules and regulations (IRR). Thereafter, FATF will be monitoring our compliance thereto and if satisfactory, the Philippines will be delisted. The process for delisting could take a little time.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today said that the government will continue to talk peace with anybody or any group that would reject violence and terrorism.

"On the national level, the hand of peace is there for anybody who wants and who is willing to renounce violence and terrorism," the President said in a press conference in Malacanang.

The President said the government has already presented a draft peace agreement to both the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

"So, to anybody who wants to renounce terrorism and violence, there is the peace agreement for them to consider," the President said.

She also said she has authorized individual governors and mayors to do their own peace initiatives with the MILF in their areas.

But the President also warned those who continue to engage in violence and terror activities, the government will apply the full force of the law.

"The important thing is that the military and the police are ready to enforce the law as they have been enforcing the law," the President said.

The President also said that the government’s policy on armed groups is intended to have the demobilization of forces or the willingness to lay down arms as the end-state of any negotiations or armed confrontation with rebel groups.

"That is always the final aim of how we deal with them (rebels) whether it’s through peace talks or through armed conflict or a combination of both," the President said.

Aside from the demobilization of forces, another end result of any settlement in an armed struggle is fighting the root cases of the conflict that includes economic exclusion, the President said.

She said that the government has been successful in the economic development in Camp Abubakar, the erstwhile headquarters of the MILF, and now in the Buliok Complex in North Cotabato, which the government has turned into a zone of peace.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today assured the people of Mindanao that the police and the military will swiftly respond to thwart any criminal action by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) or any other armed group.

The President made the assurance in the wake of recent MILF attacks and harassment against civilians following the bombing of the Davao International Airport which killed 23 people and wounded more than a hundred.

She then called on the MILF leadership to stop such attacks and harassment, saying such actions, including the sabotage of transmission lines, only bolster the argument that the MILF is not a political organization but a terrorist group.

In an informal conference at the state dining room of Malacaņang, the President said that all leads in the Davao bombing will be pursued to a definitive conclusion and that the investigation will be thorough and fair.

"It will be transparent in the sense that nobody will fool anybody," she assured. "But transparent doesn’t mean that you have to be told about the investigation while it is ongoing. It means it will be done honestly and in accordance with law. "

She said she had ordered the police and military not to telegraph preliminary results of their investigations. But she assured that the results of the thorough and fair investigation will be made public in the end.

"Those who will be found responsible will be prosecuted and put behind bars for murder which is a non-bailable crime," the President said.

The President then warned against any attempt to turn these events into a religious war, saying it must always be resisted and instead every opportunity must be exhausted to enhance inter-faith understanding.

She also thanked the support of the Filipino Muslim leaders the Ulamas when the country joined the international coalition against terrorism.

"They have been very supportive and we will still continue to hope for interfaith understanding as we go through all these difficult times," she said.

The days of the professional squatters may soon be over.

This, after the government, over the weekend, asked rightful state housing beneficiaries to immediately report to authorities abusive occupants and squatter syndicates who illegally occupy lands set for presidential proclamation.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo made the appeal in behalf of government officials during a a meeting with urban poor groups where she noted a report made by Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) Chairman Michael Defensor.

In his report, Defensor cited the problems that arise in an area set for presidential proclamation.

"Once a presidential proclamation is announced, the number of residents always increase, even multiply," Defensor said. "Nilulusob ng mga tao (People come in droves)," he added.

He asked legitimate urban poor settlers to cooperate and be vigilant in watching over the property "because it is your land that is getting smaller because of the illegal occupants."

Defensor noted the case of rightful long-time settlers in Sitio Masagana in Bicutan, Taguig but have to contend now with occupants who only settled in the area after 1992, the cut-off year set by the government.

Relocation of squatters living along the railways is now underway under the resettlement program of the HUDCC.

Those in the North railway, according to Defensor, have been relocated to medium-rise settlement areas in Camarin in Caloocan City while those along the South railway have been offered resettlement areas in Tanay, Rizal, Batangas, and Montalban, Rizal.

During the same meeting, the President approved the appointment of Percy Chavez, chairman of the Commission on Urban Poor, as the new head of the Presidential Task Force Payatas which would identify the proper government land recipients in the Payatas area in Quezon City.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is slated to meet with Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Muslim leaders of Mindanao as soon as Duterte and the officials have threshed out the scope of his role as crisis manager of the Davao bombing incident in a separate meeting today.

Saying she arranged for Duterte’s meeting with the Muslim leaders through Sultan Kudarat Governor Pax Mangudadatu, the President made it clear that the Davao mayor is the crisis manager for solving the dastardly crime that killed 23 people and wounded more than a hundred at the waiting shed of the Davao International Airport.

That means the hard-nosed Duterte will be responsible for identifying and arresting the mastermind, the accomplices, and the co-conspirators in both Regions 11 and 12 and not only in Davao, according to the President.

"Because the mastermind and the conspirators can run anywhere," the President explained in an informal press conference at the State Dining Room of Malacaņang. "So in that area, therefore, Rudy Duterte is crisis manager."

The President said that the meeting between Duterte and the Muslim leaders today came as a result of the meeting that Duterte, as crisis manager for Regions 11 and 12, conducted with the two regional Peace and Order Councils on Sunday, the day after she left Davao.

"So that is the area. It is the crisis that emanated from the bombing of the shed outside of the Davao airport. But the coverage of his (Duterte) authority is Regions 11 and 12, " she said.

The President noted that for Mindanao as a whole, there is a joint Task Force headed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines under the chairmanship of Southern Command chief Lt. Gen. Narciso Abaya.

In the press conference, the President warned against attempts to turn recent developments in Mindanao into a religious war, saying this must be resisted and instead use every opportunity to enhance inter-faith understanding.

She expressed gratitude for the support of the Muslim-elected leaders and the support of the Ulamas in joining the international coalition against terrorism.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today lauded this year’s outstanding members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) for gallantly waging war against criminality and maintaining the peace and order in the community.

In her message at the awarding ceremonies for this year’s search for the Country’s Outstanding Policemen in Service (COPS), the President cited the crucial role of the men and women in the police force in maintaining the peace and order in the country.

"In upholding the law, our police officers do more than just solve crimes, apprehend criminals and fight terrorists. More importantly, they show themselves equal to the task of forging partnerships with the community in an effort to mobilize the different sectors of society in our fight against lawlessness and crime," the President said.

The President also commended the Rotary Club of New Manila East and the Metrobank Foundation for sponsoring the search for outstanding policemen in active service.

In a simple rites held at the Malacaņang’s Heroes Hall this afternoon the President presented the trophies to the ten awardees, four of them commissioned officers and six non-commissioned officers.

Aside from the trophies, each of the awardees received P100,000 cash, courtesy of the Metrobank Foundation.

The commissioned officers who were adjudged and outstanding policemen were Police Superintendent Rhodel O. Sermonia, former chief of police of Cavite City and currently chief of the Intelligence and Investigative Division of the Cavite Provincial Office; Police Superintendent Rey Lyndon T. Lawas, former chief of police of Dumaguete Police Station and currently chief of Firearms, Explosive and Security Agencies and Guards Supervisory Section-Regional Operations and Plans Division of Police Regional Office 7 in Cebu City; Police Superintendent Noli G. Taliņo, chief of police of the Dagupan City Police Station; and Police Superintendent Genesius D.F. Molto, chief of police of the Daraga Municipal Police Station in Daraga, Albay

The non-commissioned awardees were SPO1 Edgardo G. Sto. Domingo, chief of the Special Operations Group of the Naga City Police Station in Naga City, Camarines Sur; SPO4 Rommel G. Macatlang of the PNP Traffic Management Group based in Camp Crame, Quezon City; SPO4 Gerry L. Sangalang, deputy chief of police of the Nagcarlan Municipal Police Station in Nagcarlan, Laguna; SPO1 Benigno R. Andamon of the Sto. Tomas Police Staion in Davao Del Norte; SPO4 Reynaldo Z. Medina, Jr., precinct commander of the Balintawak PNP Assistance Center, Police Station 1 of the Central Police District in Quezon City; and SPO1 Bernard C. Antolin of the Mapandan Police Station in Mapandan, Pangasinan.

In his statement, PNP Chief, Director General Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr. said that the awardees – the real cops – "have done us proud to the police organization."

"The awardees tell us that it is never enough to wear the police uniform. We all must make a difference," Edbane said.

The COPS award started as the search for the Best Community Oriented Policemen by the Rotary Club of New Manila East (RCNME).

The main objective of the search is to recognize commissioned and non-commissioned officers with outstanding achievements not only for implementing the law, but more importantly, in mobilizing the community in maintaining the peace and order

The search also highlights the "One PNP" program of the PNP, especially the neighborhood participation thrust, which encourages involvement of local communities to ensure crime prevention, solution and intervention.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today authorized the installation of certain affected areas in Mindanao as "sanctuaries of peace" to protect displaced civilians from harassment by criminals and terrorists.

The President revealed her plan during a meeting with the officials of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines at the Music Conference Room in Malacanang.

The President said "sanctuaries of peace" would be a slightly amended version of the zones of peace.

She said at least 42 areas would be initially placed as such.

She said Tabang Mindanaw, assisted by several government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), would spearhead the reintegration of displaced families in the said areas.

The government earlier declared former conflict areas Pikit and the Buliok Complex in North Cotabato as "zones of peace"

The establishment of a "zone of peace," according to Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes, is a step that the government has taken to facilitate and encourage the evacuees to return to their former homes and live normal lives.

Gen. Dionisio Santiago, chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), has said that when an area is declared a zone of peace, the military would move out from the population centers and will be just in the periphery.

Santiago said the police and the military would make sure that criminal elements would not enter the zone to ensure the security of the returning evacuees.

In case there will be criminal activities inside the populated areas, the police and the military will have to go there and make sure that the perpetrators of these criminal acts would be apprehended and prosecuted.

According to the Department of Social Welfare and Development, at least 15,604 families have been displaced in Central Mindanao because of conflict.

The Macapagal-Arroyo administration will wait for the definite and final resolution of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on the disarmament of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq before making an official stand on the matter

But the government will continue to abide with the UNSC’s earlier Resolution 1441 which urged Iraq to destroy the chemical and biological warheads it reportedly has in its arsenal.

Foreign Secretary Blas Ople today said the Iraqi leadership should immediately and verifiably comply with the mandate of the UNSC so that war could be averted in the Middle East.

Ople said the government would also convene the National Security Council (NSC) within the week to confer on the matter and on further strengthening national preparations in the event that war breaks out in the Persian Gulf.

He said the NSC meeting would include top officials and congressional leaders.

"We will have to wait for the United Nations Security Council to frame an official stand of the Philippine government (on the matter)," Ople stressed.

The government’s position on the Iraqi crisis has been consistent from the beginning.

Nevertheless, Ople said the government has made preparations for the impending conflict in that region.

He noted that Ambassador Roy Cimatu, who heads the Middle East Preparedness Team, has finalized the possible and immediate evacuation and relocation programs for Filipinos in the Gulf.

He added that government has enlisted the help of the International Organization of Migration, United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees (UNHCR) to help the Philippines in any event.

Ople also noted that the Philippine Embassy in Baghdad, headed by Ambassador Grace Escalante, is open until now.

He assured that the Philippines would not send combat troops abroad. But the country could dispatch doctors, nurses, other medical workers and peacekeeping forces outside of Iraq if the conflict ensues.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines today expressed appreciation for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s emphasis on responsible parenthood as a means of population control.

CBCP President Bishop Orlando Quevedo told the President during their meeting at the Music Conference Room that the bishops are extremely grateful for her stressing responsible parenthood.

"We want to express our collective appreciation on your emphasis on responsible parenthood," Quevedo said.

Quevedo was accompanied at the meeting by Bishops Joel Baylon, Pedro Dean, Honesto Ongtiongco and Francisco San Diego and Monsignor Hernando Coronel.

Also in attendance were Health Secretary Manuel Dayrit, Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople, Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes and Brig. Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, chief of operations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The President said the government would soon intensify its information campaign on responsible parenthood.

Quevedo told the President that the bishops are contemplating on collaborating with the government on the said campaign.

The President herself expressed appreciation for the bishop’s plan, saying she hopes the partnership could be in time for Mother’s Day on May 11.

On the occasion of International Women’s Day last Saturday, the President called on mothers to promote responsible parenthood, saying it was not a matter of having unlimited children, but being better prepared for the coming of each child.

The President explained that responsible parenthood entailed the right spacing between children to allow the mother to recover her health and for her to take care of her newborn.

She said responsible parenthood called for a regular assessment of the couple’s capacity or readiness to have a child.

Citing the economic, psychological, physical, social and other valid reasons for postponing pregnancy, the President said family planning enjoins couples to decide when it is best to have a child.

She stressed that family planning and responsible parenthood were deeply-rooted values acceptable to the Catholic Church, to which most Filipinos belong.

The government has also pursued the natural family planning method being practiced by the Church. "Kaya hindi kailangang maghiwalay ang simbahan at (ang gobyerno) sa family planning," she said.

She added that natural family planning referred to the method and planning for child spacing by observing the fertile and infertile phases of the mother’s monthly cycle, with abstinence if pregnancy is to be avoided.

She emphasized that the natural family planning involved very little or no cost.

"You only need to buy a thermometer and recording chart," she said, adding that natural family planning has been internationally known, scientific, practical and 99 percent effective.