Despite the denial of the government’s petition for the extradition of Mr. Rod Strunk, a prime suspect in the Nida Blanca murder case, the Department of Justice and the Department of Foreign Affairs are instructed to continue exploring all legal measures to bring Mr. Strunk back to face the justice of our courts.

There have also been allegations that certain officials of the Justice Department and the National Bureau of Investigation were negligent in pursuing and providing documents for the extradition case. These agencies should account for their actions in this matter. If there were failings, they should be acknowledged, the individuals responsible should be held accountable, and corrective action should be undertaken.

Some 12,247 urban poor families have availed of a total P529.4 million in informal settlers loans for the first 10 months of the year under the government’s Community Mortgage Program (CMP) to realize their dream of having a house and lot they can truly call their own.

Secretary Michael T. Defensor, chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), said that the 10-month loan performance in 87 CMP housing sites has brought to an aggregate total of P4.317 billion the CMP loans granted since 1989 which financed 1,104 housing sites for 138, 871 family beneficiaries.

"The total loan releases for the year ending October 31 already comprise the highest annual loan level during the 15-year implementation of the urban home financing program," Defensor said.

The January-October CMP loan take-outs posted by the National Home Mortgage Finance Corp. (NHMFC), an agency under HUDCC supervision, also boosted the share of informal settler loans during the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to a total of P1.342 billion.

This represents 31.07 percent of total program releases comprising the single biggest fund releases for urban poor housing than in any previous administration.

During this period, a total of 33,660 urban poor families were granted housing loans, equivalent to 24.24 percent of the cumulative beneficiaries of 138, 871 since the program started.

For this period, President Macapagal-Arroyo’s administration has authorized the disbursement of P900 million in funds for CMP housing loans, of which amount P529.4 million has been released as of last month with the balance of P370.6 million already committed to fund the acquisition of urban-poor tenanted lands.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo took time out from her busy schedule this morning to personally call and congratulate Manny Pacquiao for his sensational victory over highly regarded Mexican featherweight Marco Antonio Barrera in San Antonio, Texas Sunday.

On behalf of the Filipino people, the President conveyed the nation’s gratitude to the Filipino boxing hero for the well-deserved 11^th round TKO victory in the scheduled 12 rounder.

The Chief Executive also expressed elation over the triumph of Fil-Am Dorothy Delasin in the LPGA Tournament of Champions in Mobile, Alabama also Sunday.

"Our athletes and sportsmen are on a roll and have proven to be world class. We salute them and wish them more power," the President said in a statement this morning.

Delasin defeated South Korean Han Hee-won in sudden death playoff to end a long two-year title drought in the rich women’s professional tour. She was back-to-back Philippine Sportswriters Association Athlete of the Year in 2000 and 2001.

"Ang buong sambayanan ay saludo sa ‘yo. Silang lahat ay masaya sa tagumpay mo (The whole nation salutes you. They are all happy over your triumph)," the President told Pacquiao, the country’s lone Filipino world champion in boxing.

Pacquiao, in return, thanked the President and the Filipino people for their support and prayers, saying he dedicates his victory to the Filipino poeple.

Pacquiao, the reigning International Boxing Federation junior featherweight champion who moved up to the featherweight class to fight the Mexican, is scheduled to be given a heroes welcome when he returns from the United States Friday.

Touched by the warm response of his countrymen to his resounding victory over highly-regarded Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera last Sunday, boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao today called on all Filipinos to set aside their differences and work together for the sake of the country.

From his hotel suite in San Antonio, Texas, Pacquiao said that all Filipinos should work together "because this is our country and it’s the only one we’ve got."

Pacquiao also requested President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to convey to the Filipino people his thanks and gratitude for their prayers and support, saying, "I hope I’ve made them feel good and proud."

Thrilled no end by the overseas call made by the President to his hotel suite in San Antonio, Texas just hours after his 11^th round TKO victory, Pacquiao dedicated his victory "to my family, my countrymen and our President."

The Chief Executive, who has always received Pacquiao in Malacaņang after every major victory, called Pacquiao to personally congratulate him, saying, "ang buong sambayanan ay saludo sa iyong panalo. Ipinagmamalaki ka ng mga Pilipino. (The whole nation salutes your victory. They are proud of you.)."

Pacquiao said he was touched when informed that his smashing victory had lifted the spirits of Filipinos from all walks of life and that he was given a standing ovation during the PBA games Sunday as a clip of his TKO win was flashed on the big screen inside the Araneta Coliseum.

"Sana patuloy nila akong suportahan sa career ko (I hope they will continue to support me in my career)," Pacquiao was quoted to have said.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today lauded government teachers for their sacrifices and for improving the quality of their teaching to millions of students in the public schools despite working under severe budget constraints.

The President issued the statement during the opening of the national conference of the Philippine Association of School Superintendents (PASS) at the Coral Ballroom of the Manila Pavillon this afternoon.

"Thank you for doing so well under so difficult circumstances, and I hope, as we improve our economy, it is also to be much better for the teachers and for the students that you are teaching. Congratulations and thank you very much for all of your sacrifices," the President said.

It was a good opportunity to observe the reactions of the teachers and superintendents who attended the conference because she can clearly see the most important problem they face daily, the President said.

She told them that one of the problems she noticed that needs immediate attention, while Secretary Edilberto De Jesus of the Department of Education made his road map presentation, was the issue on the maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) for their daily needs.

The President told them she will ask Budget Secretary Emilia Boncodin to find out what the government can do about it.

"I have to find out from her the status of the state of our budget deficit and we will see, considering those constraints, what we can do so that somehow you can have your light and water continuous for the rest of the year," the President said.

She also congratulated the officers and members of PASS for convening the 2003 PASS Congress with the theme, "Accountability of Schools Superintendents in the Context of Decentralization."

The President said "this event comes hand in hand with their organization’s commitment to constantly upgrade the curricula and adapt to an ever-changing technological landscape."

"Indeed, your capability to produce world-class graduates is again highlighted as you convene with your colleagues. May you continue your noble mission to constantly improve our educational system and to make it truly responsive to the demands of the 21^st century," the President added.

Holding of the annual PASS conference will help foster a wholesome relationship between and among its members, assure social growth crucial in today’s world, set new directions, vision and mission in humanizing the education of every Filipino, the President said.

This year’s theme, "Accountability of Schools Superintendent in the Context of Decentralization," will guide the education department in the direction of its goals as those assuming leadership roles to move the organization forward.

Malacaņang is not considering any out-of-court settlement on cases against parties with which it is seeking reconciliation. Cabinet Secretary Ricardo Saludo has denied saying that the President is "mulling" such modes of settling disputes with major political figures with outstanding issues against the government.

Whenever he was asked about specific actions to resolve contentious matters with various camps, Saludo repeatedly declined comment. "Let’s not get ahead of ourselves," he told the ABS-CBN News Channel. "We cannot comment on specifics since there have been no substantive talks on such matters."

Saludo said that while the President has asked Davao Archbishop Fernando Capalla, president of the influential Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, to lead the reconciliation efforts, the Roman Catholic prelate has not yet undertaken any major dialogue. Hence, Saludo stressed, "it is not appropriate to comment on any specific arrangements for reconciliation."

United States Ambassador-at-large J. Cofer Black today informed President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo that he is Manila to ensure that work being done to fight terror "must be done right" or thousands of innocent people will die.

During his call in Malacaņang this afternoon, Ambassador Black told the President that he is here also to ensure that the programs and initiatives that the United States is undertaking in support not only of the Filipinos but also of Americans and their families here in the Philippines "are the right moves."

In a press briefing after his call on the President, the Ambassador said that his visit is meant to build and solidify relationships and learn about what the government is doing in the area of counter-terrorism.

He said that the President and her administration have provided tremendous leadership in the global war on terrorism, and the recent visit here of President George W. Bush has forged a partnership between the two countries on counter-terrorism that has taken a new vitality and importance.

Black also said that the Philippines has an effective anti-terrorism strategy and the appropriate procedures and reforms in place in moving ahead efficiently and effectively.

He also stressed that the Philippine government has the elements of the military that have the capability to respond to terrorists and the Philippine National Police has an impressive ability to preempt terrorists.

"The Philippines and the United States have a common approach and appreciation of the threat that faces us. We both validated that we are truly enmeshed together," Ambassador Black pointed out.

He also made the assurance that the Filipino people can count on the American counter-terrorist community to do everything humanly possible to defend the Filipino people.

STA. CRUZ, Laguna—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today awarded 57 Certificates of Land Ownership (CLOAs) to 129 farmer beneficiaries as part of her commitment to give lands to poor but deserving Filipinos under the government’s land reform program.

Speaking before more than 2,000 farmers at the "Farmers Workshop and Dialogue" held at the San Luis Sports Complex here, the President said that the country’s growth goes hand in hand with agricultural progress and development, particularly in Laguna, being at the center of CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) growth corridor.

"Mas mabilis ang pagsulonng ng ating bansa, huwaran ang Laguna ng ating uban land reform," the President said.

She congratulated the 129 farmers who received their CLOAs. Some of the CLOAs have two farmers as co-owners.

The President urged the farmer participants not to be affected by the political adventurism waged by some disgruntled sectors. She also appealed to them to work hand in hand with the government in the fight against poverty and not to be contented with what they have on their tables.

She said that what the country needs today, aside from land reform, are unity and reconciliation.

During the ceremonies, the President also issued two checks totaling P170,000; P100,000 for tilapia production in fish cages in a barangay in Laguna, and the P70,000 for the construction of two deep wells in Siniloan, Laguna.

After reviewing the output of the farmers’ forum, the President also released the amount of P5 million for the Laguna Agricultural Trading Center, known here as the Bagsakan Center.

It will serve as the primary trading center for the major agricultural products of the province, such as fruits, vegetables, root crops, and fishery and livestock products.

The President was welcomed by provincial officials led by Laguna Governor Teresita Lazaro, Vice Governor Dan Fernandez, and Mayor Emilio Ejercito of Pagsanjan, Laguna.

Also on hand to welcome the President was Agrarian Reform Secretary Roberto Pagdanganan. The workshop output was presented to the President by Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Regional Director Dominador Andres and a representative of the farmer participants.