The Association of Generals and Flag Officers, Inc. (AGFO) has urged the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to speed up court martial proceedings against those involved in the July 27 Oakwood mutiny.

In its Board Resolution No. 12-03 which was unanimously approved last October 16, AGFO resolved that "General Narciso L. Abaya, Chief of Staff, AFP, be urged to direct expeditious action to give speedy justice to the Magdalo offenders who have committed offenses of great national importance".

The resolution said the military officers and men who participated in the attempt to wrest control of the government have committed acts punishable by court martial.

It said that the defiant attitude of the officers seriously undermined military discipline and good order and caused embarrassment to the AFP. It added that there is a growing public anxiety that the court martial of the offenders is taking too long.

The resolution also said "justice delayed is justice denied."

On November 1, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered the release of 133 military personnel suspected of being involved in the Oakwood incident but give the go ahead signal for the court martial of 270 military personnel.

The President said that the AFP pre-investigation panel had recommended the filing of charges against 270 military personnel for complicity in the commission of offenses of mutiny (Article of War 67), disrespect toward the President, the Defense Secretary, among others (Article of War 63), disrespect toward superior officers (Article of War 64), conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman (Article of War 96), and conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline (Article of War 97).

"The wheels of military justice now start turning. The 270 military personnel stand to be tried before the General Court Martial on account of their complicity in espousing extra-legal means to accomplish and justify an unlawful end," the President said.

"Our people have accepted all these instruments of social, political and economic facilitation and I do not see how a national ID system can be portrayed as oppressive," the President said.

"Let’s pursue this program for a safer and more progressive nation," the President said.

On Friday, at the 29^th Philippine Business Conference at the Manila Hotel, Donald Dee, president of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines, expressed his support for the national ID system.

The President said that while waiting for Congress to consolidate all inputs for the implementation of the National Identification System, some local government units have already started making their own ID system, such as the municipality of Taguig, and one in Cebu province.

"Let’s show these criminals that the law never sleeps and that they can not escape it," she said.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today urged Filipinos to discard the culture of engaging in premature politics, saying that this only tends to project the Philippines as a "severely divided, bickering nation."

"Perhaps one of the reforms we must pursue in our political culture is the premature hype on partisan issues very early in the day that tends to project us as a severely divided bickering nation," the President told delegates to the the 4^th Luzon Area Conference of the Provincial Board Members League (PBML) at the Grand Ballroom of the Century Park Hotel in Malate, Manila.

The President said Filipinos should concentrate on things that they unite and not on things that would only fan more divisiveness.

"Our people are united behind democracy, civility and good governance, and these are the ideals we must carry with them, not the preoccupation with heady partisan issues that is a distraction to nation-building," she said.

Already, the President said, the political landscape is rife with intrigues, controversies and speculations "and the people seem to be abandoned in the midst of loud and excessive politicking."

"I’m glad you’re here not to aggravate the situation but continue your work. I also will not aggravate the situation. I am resolved to make my days more useful by engaging in meaningful events of vital public interest," she said.

The President said the proper time to engage in politics is more than two months away.

"Let’s just welcome the holiday season in the spirit of reform and unity and try to help the people surmount their difficulties," she said.

The President also thanked the respective local government units represented in the conference for their counterpart support in the national government’s land titling program, micro-finance projects, and health insurance premiums that have already benefited an unprecedented number of their poor constituents.

The efforts of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to make available cheap medicines to the poor have been realized, according to a recent survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations.

The survey showed that the percentage of the people who consider medicines very expensive has dropped sharply to 20 percent, from 60 percent in the previous surveys in 1999 and 2001. Those who consider medicines somewhat cheap rose to 33 percent, from 10 percent and those who think medicines are very cheap also rose to 10 percent, from less than three percent.

The survey, conducted from August 30 to September 14, also showed that Mindanao residents and poor people were more likely to feel that medicines bought in the past six months were cheap.

It also showed that 48 percent bought generic medicines, 33 percent branded medicine and 19 percent both generic and branded.

"The perception of the public now is that low-priced medicines are actually making inroads into the countryside and the perception of the people that they are available is going up as high as 43 percent," Health Secretary Manuel Dayrit informed the President last week during the unification meeting of Philippine drug manufacturers in Malolos, Bulacan.

Dayrit also said 49 percent of consumers are now using generic drugs compared to an estimated 11 to 15 percent two years back.

In her speech before the Philippine drug manufacturers, the President said there is a P100-million fund from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office for the Department of Health to buy locally manufactured medicines and make them available to the poor.

That is on top of P100 million seed money she provided the Philippine International Trading Corporation to import the proper medicines and prevent the influx of fake ones.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today paid tribute to the Filipino inventors who, she said, are prime movers of Philippine development.

"The brilliance and ingenuity of the Filipino has time and again come to light in inventions that have eased people’s lives and have pushed forward the frontiers of human development," the President said in a message during the National Inventors’ Week whose awarding ceremonies were held this morning at the Ceremonial Hall in Malacaņang.

The President led the distribution of plaques and medals to the private sector’s most promising inventions and the Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) Sibol, Likha, and Tuklas Awards.

She was assisted by DOST Secretary Estrella Alabastro, Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) president Robin Sy, Philips Electronics executive Med Mateo, and Deborah Landey, the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), which provided the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) gold medal and cash prizes for the first place winners in the DOST awards.

"The awards given at the culmination of the week-long celebration aim to encourage established and budding inventors to develop their big ideas in their country to benefit fellow Filipinos," the President said.

Pursuant to Proclamation Nos. 355 and 285, the DOST, through the Technology Application and Promotion Institute (TAPI), conducts the annual celebration of the National Inventors’ Week.

TAGAYTAY CITY – It was a virtual nature trip for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo here today when she led the inauguration of the Plantation Hills, an agricultural project showcasing the promotion of a balanced ecological system in the country.

The President arrived here on board a presidential chopper at exactly 3 p.m. and was welcomed by Willy Ocier, Belle Corporation vice chair and chairman of Tagaytay Highlands; Han Sy, chairman of Belle Corporation; Jerry Tiu, club president; Shopping mall magnate Henry Sy, Sr. and Teresita Sy-Coson.

While touring the vegetable model farm, the President harvested fresh cabbage, spaghetti squash, and lettuce. On the way, she was briefed by Maria Cristina Fernandez, head of the sales department of the Belle Corporation, regarding the plantation.

The President also led the 25 members of the Plantation Hills Women’s Club in the planting of molave tree saplings.

Plantation Hills is a residential farm development situated approximately 2.56 kilometers east of Tagaytay Midlands Golf Club and Tagaytay Highlands. It covers a total land area of 30 hectares.

Nestled within a world class private club facility, Plantation Hills aims to promote ecological balance by primarily encouraging its homeowners to engage in organic farming, vermiculture and embark in a zero-waste management program which is a big contribution in protecting Mother Earth and secure the future of the youth.