Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye today expressed optimism that the formal peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will be resumed in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, within this month.

In an interview with Radyo ng Bayan, Bunye said, "Palagay ko matutuloy na iyan this month, but iyong exact date hindi pa lang natin ma-pinpoint (I think it (peace parley) will take place this month, but the date has not yet been fixed)."

Bunye, who was a member of the official party of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on her recent five-day working trip to the United States and Europe, said that Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has been strongly committed to arranging the peace talks "very soon."

Prime Minister Mahathir, who has offered to broker and host the peace talks in Kuala Lumpur, held last week a one-on-one meeting with President Macapagal-Arroyo at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Both addressed the 58^th regular session of the UN General Assembly.

The Presidential Spokesman noted a number of factors indicating that "peace is within sight in Mindanao."

Apart from Mahathir, he said that UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Ministers of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), and the U.S. Institute for Peace had expressed support for the Macapagal-Arroyo administration’s initiatives for peace and development in Mindanao.

"These are very positive developments as far as peace is concerned in Mindanao," he said.

Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye today said that "high profile drug cases" will not be covered by the moratorium on death penalty under President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s administration.

Bunye, who accompanied the President on her working visit to New York, Rome and Paris last week, said Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo reiterated, in an audience with Pope John Paul II at the Vatican City, that her administration’s policies adhere to the Catholic Church doctrines.

In a radio interview, Bunye said the President informed the Holy Father that her administration "opposes anti-life" legislation, like those on abortion, and "anti-family" legislation, such as those on divorce.

He said that the President also told the Pope that her administration has implemented a moratorium on capital punishment.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today directed law enforcement agencies to close down establishments engaged in the sale of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) found violating rules and regulations issued by the Department of Energy

The President issued the directive during a meeting in Malacaņang with the top players of the LPG industry to discuss the implementation of safety standards to protect consumers under RA No. 8479, otherwise known as the Downstream Oil Industry Deregulation law.

Concerned over the proliferation of substandard LPG cylinders, the LPG Industry Association (LPGIA) asked the President to strengthen the law by giving more power to the DOE to immediately arrest and prosecute those engaged in these illegal activities.

The association cited the malpractices of some LPG dealers, refillers and sub-dealers, particularly in the use of sub-standard cylinders, under-filling and illegal refilling, and tampering of LPG tanks.

LPGIA President Roberto Velasquez said that members of the association have been apprehending violators. "But we have come to a point where we cannot proceed further because of lack of teeth or powers of the DOE," Velazquez told the President.

The President directed the Presidential Liaison on Legislative Officer Secretary Gabriel Claudio to certify a bill that would amend the existing law.

The President also ordered the drafting of an Executive Order to further intensify the campaign against LPG establishments found violating the existing law.

Among those who met with the LPGIA officers were Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina Jr., Energy Secretary Vicente Perez Jr., Energy Undersecretary Emmanuel de Dios, Trade and Industry Undersecretary Adrian Cristobal and Customs Commissioner Antonio Bernardo

President Macapagal-Arroyo emphasized, however, that she is in "full control" of the situation, and that Moody’s Investor Service, in fact, has acknowledged that the government has prevailed over the most vital challenge to stability like the July 27 military mutiny at the Oakwood Hotel in Makati City.

Moody’s Investor Service was reported to have downgraded its outlook on the Philippines’ long-term foreign currency borrowings from stable to negative.

The President urged political parties and leaders to affirm "all-partisan loyalty to the democratic process" so as to ease the growing tensions occasioned by the run-up to the 2004 elections.

"I would like to call on all political parties and leaders to make a strong pitch for this," she said. "This must be an unequivocal statement because there are nagging perceptions that some partisan quarters are engaged in underground activities even if they openly profess loyalty and participation in the democratic process."

She stressed the need for a commitment to justice, the rule of law, constructive debate and fair play.

"Ours is a free-wheeling democracy," she said, "but we should strive to alleviate political behavior that aggravates destructive tensions, instabilities and divisions."

The approval rating of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is expected to bounce back after two recent surveys showed a slide, which could be mainly attributed to too much politics, Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said today.

Commenting on the Social Weather Station’s latest survey, Bunye noted that it was similar to the one conducted by Pulse Asia during the same period when the President’s approval rating also slightly dropped.

"We believe that things have bottomed out," Bunye said. "With developments brought about by the positive results of her trip to the US and Europe, the approval rating of the President would again bounce back."

Bunye also quashed apprehension of another coup attempt against the administration similar to what happened last July, saying that the President enjoys wide support in the military and civilian sector.

"The perception of the administration is that we have effectively consolidated the hold of the presidency on the Armed Forces of the Philippines," Bunye said.

He said the loyalty of the officers and men in the military establishment is very apparent.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has issued Proclamation No. 476 extending the National Registration Week for first-time voters.

The registration period now includes the fourth week of October 2003 instead of only the third week as spelled out by Proclamation No. 430.

The President issued the new proclamation in response to a request of the Sangguniang Kabataan National Federation for an extension of the period until the fourth week of October.

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has earlier said that in order to give meaning and importance to the political exercise there is a need to extend the period of registration until the end of October 2003.

The proclamation is a recognition of the role of the youth in nation- building and the need to uphold and protect the rights of the Filipino youth.

The President enjoined all Filipinos who will be 18 years old on or before May 10, 2004 to register.

In a press briefing later, Reyes said that he was "very proud and honored" after the President appointed him to his new post.