Re Allegations of Noel Sanchez

These allegations are the product of a fertile but confused mind. By his own admission, there was nothing irregular with the release of the funds to representatives since the money would be used for the electrification of the barangays in their district. So how could this constitute bribery? The checks were issued in the name of electric cooperatives and not in the name of individual members of Congress.

Further, these allegations are a rehash of charges which have already been investigated and dismissed by the Ombudsman in a resolution dated July 26, 2002.

For quick reference, let me quote the pertinent findings of the Ombudsman on the matter:

"The allegation that the fastbreak release of P470 million was part of the lobby money doled out to some Congressman is devoid of truth. There is no evidence unearthed to substantiate the allegation. The allegation is purely speculative.

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"It clearly appears from the foregoing that the release of P470 million fund for the O’ Ilaw Program have (sic) been aboveboard. The release of P470 million to NEA, four days after Congress approved the Electric Industry Power Reform Act, belied the claimed that it was used to bribe the Legislator (sic)."

For the record, Mr. Sanchez is now facing charges before the Ombudsman for alleged irregularities in the bidding for the purchase of electric posts used by NEA.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today called on all the people to do their share – and not merely rely on the government – in these times of crisis not only in the Philippines but throughout the world.

"Dito sa mga mahirap na panahon – ito ay mahirap na panahon hindi lamang dito sa ating bansa kundi sa buong mundo – ang kailangan siguro ay bawat isa sa atin, hanapin natin kung ano ang puede nating magawa para sa ating bansa (In these times of crisis – these are, indeed, times of crisis not only in our country but throughout the world – what is expected of each of us is to find out what we can do for the country)," said the President during a morning interview on television.

Rather, the President said, "Let’s ask ourselves: ano ang dapat magawa para sa bansa para sa panahon na ito (What must we do for our country in these difficult times)."

During the same TV interview, the President reiterated her offer of peace to rebels who will renounce violence and terrorism.

The President said she was not merely opening to door to peace. "Inaalok ang kapayapaan sa kanino man o sino man na tatanggi sa karahasan (We are offering peace and will negotiate peace with anyone who renounces violence and terrorism)," the President added.

The President pointed out that she has urged local government executives, including provincial governors and city and town mayors, to talk peace with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in their localities.

During an informal meeting with the members of the Malacanang Press Corps last Monday, 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 MILF.

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

The President, however, also warned those who will continue to engage in violence and terror activities that the government will apply the full force of the law against them.

"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.

Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye also stressed in a statement issued earlier that the government’s end objective is peace, adding that without peace, there can be no development.

Bunye said that at the national level, peace negotiations would be pursued with the facilitation and assistance of third-party nations in order to achieve a comprehensive and durable settlement of the conflict and in line with the Constitution.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today said she continues to have full trust and confidence in Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes amidst calls for his resignation.

"In fact, Secretary Reyes is one of my most obedient Cabinet members," the President said in an interview with Magandang Umaga Bayan, a morning television talk show.

The President said that almost without question, Reyes followed all her instructions.

The President’s reaction was made in the wake of allegations that on several occasions, Reyes has disobeyed her orders, including the military assault on the Buliok Complex in Pikit, North Cotabato that was supposedly undertaken without the go-signal from the President.

According to the President, there are times when Reyes does not agree with her decision but after discussions between the two of them, in the end it was her decision that Reyes would follow.

It’s not all war and terrorist threats for the lady that keeps the nation going.

Like any other school kid who had crushes, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo bared her human side to the public this morning, recalling her days as a student at Georgetown University where she had former US President Bill Clinton as classmate to those lambada sessions with First Gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo that served as her social life prior to her ascent to the Presidency.

The President appeared relaxed and unperturbed by the recent developments in the South when she gamely answered all questions thrown at her by Magandang Umaga Bayan hosts Edu Manzano and Erwin Tulfo who broadcast their early-morning show live from the Malacanang gardens.

Resplendent in her all-red dress, Mrs. Arroyo also touched on her "apo," first grandson by Pampanga Vice Governor Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo.

As a 16-year-old daughter to then President Diosdado Macapagal, the President said she learned to count her blessings, adding that she had not dreamed of becoming another person other than her present position because she believes in fate.

She also explained why she allowed Mikey to run for vice governor of Pampanga while she did not sign the appointment papers of her daughter Luli who was a topnotcher of the Foreign Service Officers exams.

"Yung kay Mikey, hindi ko hawak ang pagiging bise gobernador niya, samantalang ang kay Luli, nasa kamay ko ang appointment niya. Ayokong may masabi sa akin ang mga tao" (On Mikey’s case, I was not responsible for his being governor but in Luli’s case, her appointment has to passed through me. I don’t want people to say anything), the President said.

But while the President presented her other side, she also gave justice to her tag as a firm lady when she warned those who will continue to use violent means in achieving their goals that they will meet the full force of the law.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today urged the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to take clear and specific moves to step out of the boundaries of terrorism and truly work for peace in Mindanao.

"So it must stop all terrorist acts," the President said in a press briefing this afternoon at the State Dining Room of Malacanang.

The President said the MILF leaders must issue "unequivocal statement proscribing terrorism as a means to attain its objectives.

The MILF must also cooperate in bringing terrorist justice, the President said, pointing out that after all, the MILF is committed under several accords to bring criminals and terrorists to justice and to support development initiatives in poor Muslim communities.

The President, however, expressed sadness that the MILF does not have much to show for these commitments in front of its followers and the whole Islamic community.

As far as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is concerned, the President said, it is in a posture of "active defense." "That is my instructions," she said.

The President, who is the commander in chief of the AFP, said that while a line of communication for peace negotiation is being opened or being made available to the MILF to spare more civilians from dislocation and suffering, the military and police shall secure the civilian population, keep highways of commerce open and check movements of armed groups posing a direct threat to peace and order.

She said peace negotiations are still an option with the facilitation and assistance of third parties aimed at achieving a comprehensive and durable settlement of the conflict in Mindanao in line with the Constitution.

Local peace talks are a way of bringing the scattered MILF militia, who have lost faith in their leaders, back to the community, the President said.

According to the President, several initiatives are already underway.

The Chief Executive said she likewise welcomes back those who renounce armed struggle, those who are willing to disarm and want to join the mainstream of peace and development and justice.

She also thanked the political leaders who have expressed support for her policy, "because after all this is no time for political grandstanding."

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today said that the Philippines would continue to avail itself of the "role of Malaysia as a third party facilitator" in peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

This had been what Malaysia has "really been doing with great success all this time," the President told a press conference in Malacanang this afternoon.

"We would want them to continue to help us in that way," she said.

The President said she had instructed Special Envoy Roberto Romulo to apprise acting Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi on the situation in southern Philippines and government efforts to push for peaceful initiatives to solve the Mindanao conflict.

Romulo was expected to meet with Badawi in Kuala Lumpur this week.

"Romulo knows Badawi very well. They were foreign ministers together at the same time," the President said.

Malaysia had been hosting peace negotiations between the government and the MILF.

The talks have led to the signing of a ceasefire agreement and several protocols, one of them committing the MILF to helping government fight against criminals, particularly kidnap-for-ransom groups.

The President also stressed that she does not want to deal with the MILF "through the media."

"The administration is making available that option of peace with the facilitation and assistance of a third party," she added, referring to Malaysia.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today said that personally, she would not mind holding the Balikatan exercises in North Cotabato, saying the war exercise can be held in any other place "where it is wanted, where it is invited."

The President revealed that all offers for the holding of the exercises in various areas are being considered but that it will be just an operational decision on the part of the Department of Defense on whether to transfer the Balikatan 03-1 from Jolo, Sulu to another venue.

"I gave Secretary (Angelo) Reyes the instruction that if they are not wanted in Sulu, the exercises can be put in any other place where they are wanted, where they are invited," she said. "And actually, there are many provinces that have already invited us to put the exercises there," the President added.

North Cotabato cropped up as an alternate venue for the joint Philippines-US military exercises when its Governor, Emmanuel Pinol, appealed to the President and Reyes to consider the province for the exercises, saying the provincial board had already passed a resolution affirming his request.

Pinol was quoted to have said that the development projects undertaken in Basilan during last year’s Balikatan could be replicated in his province.

For his part, Reyes said he had asked Defense and AFP officials to study Pinol’s proposal, saying it is encouraging that governors like Pinol are volunteering to host the Balikatan 03-1.

Thwarting attempts to link the holding of the exercises in places where there are armed enemy groups, the President said: "You know we have exercises going on in Zamboanga and there are no enemies in Zamboanga. We have been conducting exercises in Nueva Ecija, in Cavite and there are no armed groups there. So we don’t have to tie up putting the exercises where there are armed enemy groups."

She also cleared the notion that the military is on an all-out offensive against the enemies in the South, saying the instructions to them are clear – to run after lawless elements and enforce the law.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today said that she has directed Energy Secretary Vince Perez to look for ways on how the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) can reduce its purchased power adjustment (PPA) and lower the cost of electricity to the general public.

In a press briefing in Malacanang this afternoon, the President said one of the components of the PPA being collected by Meralco are the deferred charges now being billed to the power firm by First Gas Corporation, which is also owned by the Lopez group of companies.

The President said that last year, she had ordered the National Power Corporation (Napocor) to reduce its PPA by P0.40 per kilowatt hour by lengthening the payment period of Napocor’s financial obligations.

She said that Perez is now having a dialogue with First Gas to look for a way on how to lengthen the putting of its deferred charges on the bill.

"If that is successful, then we will be able to have another source of reducing the PPA to mitigate the other sources of increase," the President said.

The President said that what the government is proposing is not an intervention in the market forces nor a price control mechanism.

"It is working through the market because in the interest of the market, it is helping technically to look for a way for First Gas to do what Napocor did last year because Napocor sells power to Meralco and so does First Gas," she said.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today cited executives of Trinity Works of Texas and Wise Holdings, Inc. for believing in the Philippines as a business haven and for seeking to invest some $5 million in two big-ticket projects in Batangas province.

The President congratulated Trinity Works president Isaac Manning, Wise Holdings Inc. chairman Rene Francisco and other company officials.

She also wished them "good luck" during a courtesy call at Malacanang’s Music Room.

Trinity Works and Wise Holdings are ready to construct and operate the Phase 3 cargo project of the Batangas Port.

The same companies are also proposing to convert the Fernando Air Base in Lipa City as a general aviation and alternate airport of Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The President also ordered Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas and Undersecretary Noel Quintanar of the Department of Trade and Industry to complete all necessary documentary requirements for Trinity Works before April 4.

She wanted business signing for the memorandum of agreement for the Trinity Works projects to be made in New York or Washington during her visit to the United States next month.

Governor Mandanas assured the President that the requirements to start the project would be made before the deadline.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo today said the Philippines would wait for the vote in the United Nations Security Council before making an official stand on a United States-led attack on Iraq.

"We should give a chance for the UN process to work and I’m sure it will," the President said during a press briefing at the State Dining Room of Malacanang. "We should not declare our position on a hypothetical situation lest we be a laughing stock."

The President was reacting to questions on when she would convene the National Security Council given the worsening situation in the Persian Gulf.

The President said that in her earlier statements, including the one she made at 13^th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit in Kuala Lumpur last month, she had called on Iraq to comply with the UN directive for him to fully disarm to avert war in the Middle East.

In that summit, the President urged Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to "urgently negotiate a win-win settlement that will spare the heroic Iraqi people the agonies of a devastating war."

She also called on Saddam to "take the initiative and invite the UN Secretary General, the UN inspectors, representatives of doubting countries and of the international media to see for themselves if Iraq really possessed weapons of mass destruction."

The President said that only broad statements of principles were made in her meeting with congressmen and senators this morning, and that she would rather wait for the UN decision before convening the National Security Council.