BALI, Indonesia (via PLDT) –President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and other heads of state of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations sign today the Declaration of Asean Concord II, an agreement on strengthening collective ties for the promotion of peace, prosperity and welfare of the Asean countries, as the 9^th Asean Summit enters the second day here.

The original Declaration of Asean Concord was signed in l976. It underwent amendment on June 24, 1986.

The President, who is on the second day of her working visit here, will then proceed from the Auditorium of the Bali International Convention Center to Nusantara Room 3 of BICC for a scheduled working lunch of the heads of states of Asean + 3 (People’s Republic of China, Republic of Korea and Japan).

In the afternoon of Day 2 of the 9^th Asean Summit, President Macapagal-Arroyo will have bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong of Singapore, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee of India and Premier We Jiabao of the People’s Republic of China.

In the evening, Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri will host a dinner at the Tampak Siring Palace for the heads of state of the Asean countries as well as the leaders of the People’s Republic of China, Japan, Republic of Korea and India.

NUSA DUA, BALI, Indonesia – The leaders of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines (BIMP) jointly affirmed its commitment to accelerate economic development efforts to improve the living conditions of its people and maintain security and stability in the sub-region.

In a joint statement issued after their closed-door meeting Monday at the Hibiscus Room of Bali International Convention Center, the group said they discussed activities undertaken by BIMP-East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) aimed at maintaining close relationship among themselves in the interest of its inhabitants.

During the meeting, the leaders cited the efforts led by the private sectors under the East ASEAN Business Council (EABC) and the support of regional governments by providing various investment activities and trade facilitation schemes.

"To better respond to the needs of the private sector, we tasked our relevant ministers to develop more attractive trade and investment regimes, promote the development of external trade and undertake measures to eliminate trade impediments so as to reduce the cost of doing business in the BIMP-EAGA region," the statement said.

The leaders ordered the ministers and senior officials of their governments to strengthen the coordinating mechanism of the BIMP-EAGA cooperation with the establishment of a BIMP-EAGA Facilitation Center in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.

They also commended the government of Malaysia in its support to the establishment of the Center that would facilitate the implementation of all activities concerning the flagship projects of the sub-region.

The leaders also called on the ministers and senior officials to focus on cooperation in tourism, transportation, and in the agro-industry sector.

The ministers and senior officials were also tasked to take the lead in further promoting the development of land, air and sea linkages among the four countries to encourage the flow of tourists, goods and services within the area.

They also acknowledged the support of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as the regional advisor of BIMP-EAGA, and the ASEAN Secretariat, for its continued support in the formulation and implementation of the BIMP-EAGA development programs in line with the initiative for ASEAN integration (IAI).

The leaders also welcomed the support of China, Japan and Korea in the development of the BIMP-EAGA.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo today said that Philippine authorities are closely coordinating with Malaysian officials to look into the kidnapping incident which reportedly occurred last Sunday.

In a statement from Bali, Indonesia, where she is attending the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit meeting, the President said the incident "is another test of our agreement on the exchange of communications and information on terrorism and transnational crime among the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia and Brunei."

It was reported that about 12 foreigners were taken by armed men from a Malaysian beach in Sandakan, Sabah, about 10 p.m. Sunday.

"Close coordination with Malaysian authorities is being pursued, aimed at identifying the suspects, pinpointing their location and stepping up information and intelligence exchange," the President said.

The President ordered newly designated Defense Secretary Eduardo Ermita to work closely with the armed forces "in tapping local information sources in the area and proactively scour places in the south where the abductors could seek refuge."

Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye, who is also in Bali, said there has been no report yet as to who could be the suspects or group that conducted the latest kidnapping at the beach resort in Sandakan.

"Hindi naman natin masasabi kaagad hangga’t hindi nagkakaroon ng masusing imbestigation kung sino ang mayroong kagagawan nito (We can not immediately pinpoint who are the suspects until a thorough investigation is completed)," Bunye said.

Bunye said initial reports indicated that at least three Filipinos, who are resort workers, were among those abducted.

BALI, Indonesia (via PLDT) – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and outgoing Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad of Malaysia renew their commitment to strengthen cooperation in the fight against trans-border crimes and international terrorism amid report of a kidnapping incident in Eastern Sabah last Sunday.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople issued the statement in reaction to the reported abduction involving 10 people from the Borneo Paradise Resort in Eastern Sabah.

"President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Prime Minister Mahathir reiterated their commitment to further strengthen their cooperation in fighting trans-border crimes and international terrorism," Ople said.

During a dinner meeting last night for the leaders of ASEAN attending the 9th ASEAN Summit here, the President was able to briefly discuss the matter with Mahathir, Ople said.

He said the commitment manifested the desire of the Philippines and Malaysia to coordinate closely in the fight against terror and crime. "It is only through this cooperation that we can put an end to criminals and terrorists who crisscross our boundaries to carry out their despicable acts," Ople said.

Ople said the President instructed him to coordinate with Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar regarding the new kidnapping incident in Eastern Sabah.

He said that the Philippine government will spare no effort in apprehending the kidnappers if they are found within Philippine territory.

"We will not allow our territory to be used by criminals and terrorists to attack our neighbors," Ople said.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today ordered the speedy completion of the maximum security facility being built in Camp Crame headquarters of the Philippine National Police (PNP) following the unsuccessful but fatal escape and hostage-taking attempt by suspected Abu Sayyaf terrorist Buyungan Bungka.

The President gave the order to the PNP and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Bali, Indonesia where she is attending the 9^th Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Three personnel were killed and three others were wounded in the early morning incident at the detention center of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

DILG Secretary Jose D. Lina, Jr. said two investigations are under way, one by the PNP and the other by the National Police Commission.

Initially, the officer-in-charge of the CIDG detention facility, Police Superintendent Rosueto V. Ricaforte, head of the CIDG Anti-Organized Crime and Business Concerns Division, has been relieved.

On the President’s orders, the PNP is fast-tracking the new maximum-security detention facility, so that its jail building will be finished well before its scheduled completion date in mid-November.

NUSA DUA, Bali, Indonesia – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the nine other leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) today signed the Declaration of ASEAN Concord II, also known as the Bali Concord II.

Aside from the President, the other signatories include the Sultan of Brunei Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen of Cambodia, Prime Minister Bounnhang Vorachith of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Bin Mohamad of Malaysia, Prime Minister Gen. Khin Nyunt of Myanmar, Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong of Singapore, Prime Minister Dr. Thaksin Shinawatra of Thailand, Prime Minister Phan Van Khai of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, and President Megawati Soekarnoputri of Indonesia.

Concord II is the revitalization of the ASEAN Concord I adopted in this historic place of Bali in 1976.

As a collective stance by ASEAN leaders, they decided to adopt the frameworks that will lead to the establishment of an ASEAN community comprising three pillars: political and security cooperation, economic cooperation, and socio-cultural cooperation that are closely intertwined and mutually reinforcing for the purpose of ensuring durable peace, stability and share prosperity in the region.

The ASEAN leaders also vowed to ensure closer and mutually beneficial integration among its member states and among other peoples, and to promote regional peace and stability, security, development and prosperity to realize an ASEAN community that is open, dynamic and resilient.

The accord focused on three major frameworks such as ASEAN security, ASEAN economic community, and ASEAN socio-cultural community.

Foremost among the 12 points mentioned under the first community framework is the declaration stating that the ASEAN Security Community is meant to bring political and security cooperation to a higher plane to make sure that countries in the region live in peace with one another and with the world at large in a just, democratic and harmonious environment.

While the ASEAN Economic Community envisioned to realize the end goal of economic integration as outlined in the ASEAN Vision 2020, to create a stable, prosperous and highly competitive ASEAN economic region where there is free flow of goods, services, investment and skilled labor and a free flow of capital, equitable economic development and reduced poverty and socio-economic disparities by 2020.

The declaration also hoped to foster cooperation in social development aimed at raising the standard of living of disadvantaged people and shall seek the active involvement of all sectors of society, particularly the women, youth and the local communities.

It also ensures that the workforce shall benefit from the economic integration by investing more resources for basic and higher education training, science and technology development, job creation, and social protection.

NUSA DUA, Bali, Indonesia --- The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has tasked the Philippines to focus more on developing its electronics industry, the number one export earner of the country.

The mandate was contained in the final copy of the Bali Action Plan which constitutes a means to succeed for the facilitation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) on trade services and investments sector.

Summit officials said the AEC has been incorporated in the Bali Concord II declared by the ASEAN leaders today.

Documents released to media by the ASEAN organizers said the Bali Action Plan will also cover the sharing of duties of the ASEAN leaders to develop at least 11 sectors in the ASEAN Economic Framework Integration Plan.

Along with the Philippines, Indonesia was also tasked to develop its wood products and automotive industry. Malaysia was also assigned to further enhance its rubber, textile and garments; Myanmar on its agricultural products; ASEAN system and health services for Singapore; and aviation and tourism for Thailand.

The Bali Action Plan is part of the documents that is expected to be signed by the ASEAN leaders today.

These documents were prepared by the ASEAN senior officials during a meeting last October 3 and 4.

The ASEAN Summit Forum stated that the documents include the draft on agreement on comprehensive partnership with India. Another document to be signed is the inclusion of India in the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation of Southeast Asia and the cooperation to fight terrorism in the region.

ASEAN senior officials are optimistic that despite some technical disagreements, the problem can be resolved easily when the leaders sit down to talk things over.

Other documents that are waiting for the leaders' signatures include the ASEAN-China partnership on peace and security affairs, cooperation on information communications technology (ICT) and the ASEAN- Japan economic cooperation.

The ASEAN-China economic cooperation is vital in this gathering because once finalized, it will create a market of 1.7 billion consumers with a combined target gross domestic product of US$2 trillion and a total trade estimated at US$1.23 trillion.

Official documents released to media revealed that the cooperation agreement is the biggest free trade deal in the world considering the population size of China thus opening up big opportunities for ASEAN economies vis-a-vis China's commerce and industry markets.

In 2001, ASEAN-China trade totalled to US$55.4 billion, although it is much lower compared to the US$61.5 billion recorded in 2000.

BALI, INDONESIA (via PLDT) – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today urged the leaders of China, Japan and South Korea to join the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in ensuring greater stability and security of the East Asian region.

The President made the call in her opening remarks during the ASEAN + 3 Summit held at the Nusantra Room of the Bali International Convention Center here this afternoon.

The President thanked Premier We Jiabao of the Peoples Republic of China, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, and President Rooh Moo-Hyun of the Republic of Korea for their support for ASEAN Concord II or Bali Concord II, which was signed earlier by the ten leaders of ASEAN.

The President said the summit is very timely considering that international terrorism continued to traverse boundaries, talks on fair and liberalized trade in Cancun, Mexico collapsed and tension in the Korean Peninsula has remained.

She said the Philippine government position on the Korean crisis is that it should be resolved peacefully through international cooperation and diplomatic coordination.

"I am confident that through continuous dialogue and other confidence-building measures, the North Korean issue will eventually be resolved peacefully," the President said.

"We call for the reduction of subsidies by foreign governments to their farmers, and the lifting of non-tariff barriers, such as quotas and unwarranted health and sanitary regulations imposed upon products of developing countries," the President said, referring to the impasse in Cancun.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today appealed to her partymates to help her communicate to the people "the urgency of reforms and reconciliation" to achieve the goal of building a strong Republic.

The President issued the statement to the national directorate meeting of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats at Club Filipino in San Juan, Metro Manila, through a satellite feed from Bali, Indonesia, where she is attending the 9^th ASEAN summit meeting.

"Help me reach out to the people…so that positive change can take root and bear fruit in all our communities," the Prresident said.

The President said there is a need to shape the party platform "along the contours of a changing national, regional and global landscape. We live in a world that cries for peace, reconciliation and human dignity."

The President’s statement was made after the party’s national directorate unanimously endorsed her to be its standard bearer in the 2004 presidential elections.

The Lakas-CMD party endorsement came four days after Mrs. Arroyo declared in Clark Field, Pampanga, about her plans to participate in next year’s presidential race.

"My decision (to run) was based on my own determination of the national interest and the welfare of the people," the President said.

Reiterating her reason for seeking fresh mandate from the people, the President said, "I have gained the knowledge, experience and insight to lead the nation out of the state of division, political instability and stunted growth that we inherited two years ago."

The President said the current summit meeting among the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Bali "is an opportunity in this direction because it is now striving to define our collective direction in a world beset by conflict and poverty."

The President said the country must pursue these directions "as we fulfill the imperatives of our own peace and reconciliation from within."

Saying that Lakas-CMD is the strongest party in the country today, the President also thanked the political group for "its unstinting support for my program of government."

Determined to bring economic progress to the country, the President said "we are ready for the long fight against poverty and terrorism, for the responsibility of strong democratic governance based on honesty, effectiveness and subsidiarity."

But the President predicts a difficult fight ahead. "The price is costly in terms of the pain of political battle in a society that is often caught in the quagmire of recrimination, black propaganda and personalistic warfare," apparently referring to the vicious campaign the opposition will launch against her.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates—The ordeal of 23 Filipino seamen incarcerated for almost three years here for the crime they never committed is finally over.

The long wait to be reunited with their families will now be a reality. The Filipino seamen are now free men after they languished for years in Al Mamorach jail in Ras Al Khaimah here.

First Gentleman Jose Miguel T. Arroyo, who raised 500,000 dirhams or P7.5 million of private funds, is bringing these Filipino seamen back home to be reunited with their families.

Special Envoy to the Gulf Cooperation Council Amable Aguiluz V donated 100,000 dirhams or P1.5 million that completed 600,000 dirhams or P9 million settlement fee for the Filipino seafarers' release.

Aguiluz, on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's instruction, made the representation to UAE government for the repatriation of the seamen.

Together with the First Gentleman and Aguiluz, the freed Filipino seamen will fly to the Philippines via Gulf Air flight GF 606 at 10 p.m. Tuesday. The group will arrive in Manila at 12:45 p.m. tomorrow, Wednesday.

The Filipino seamen are Paulito Gemina, Marianito Gemina, Nestor Agustin, Joel Sumalde, Rogelio Gariando, Ronnie Valdez, Mario Algadon, Ildefonso Amul, Marcelino Silan, Edward Reyes, Jose Diaz, Jhonny Villasotto Frederick Caramoan, Samuel Ramirez, Fred Vertudez, Rufino Sawali, Danilo Padilla, Albert Dagsa, Macasio Dagsa, Leonard Zapata, Alvin John Tayao, Renato Tejero and Antonio Hafalla,

As an added treat, the First Gentleman and Ambassador Aguiluz gave the Pinoy seamen US$200 each so they can buy "pasalubong" for their families. The First Gentleman also committed to them capital seed money for income generating activities upon arrival in the Philippines.

These Filipino seamen were jailed here after they were duped by their Indian employer into signing blank salary loan forms at the RAK Bank.

While they were acquitted from criminal liability for bank fraud, the bank insisted they pay back the almost two million dirhams or about P28 million. Unless they pay the amount, they will not be released from jail even after they have already served the four-month sentence.

Through negotiations the RAK bank agreed to accept a settlement of 600,000 dirhams for their release.

The freed Filipinos are grateful for the kind-hearted generosity of Mr. Arroyo as well as Ambassador Aguiluz for providing the money. They also expressed gratitude to the President who made personal appeal to UAE authorities.

Reyes, one of the seamen, who turned 29 years old Monday, said while still in jail, this was still his most memorable birthday and would be forever grateful to the First Couple, Aguiluz and other Philippine officials who assisted them.

Amul, whose wife Ligaya will celebrate her birthday on October 9, said his freedom and reunion with his family would be the best birthday gift that his wife will get.

"Napatunayan ko ang pagtulong ng ating gobyerno sa tulad naming may mga problemang OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers)," Paulito Gemina said.

"Matagal na naming idinarasal na magpadala ang Diyos ng taong tutulong sa amin at dininig nga ang aming panalangin. Habang buhay naming tatanawing utang na loob ang ginawa nilang tulong," 58-year-old Gariando narrated.

Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr. today assumed the presidency of the ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) party, a post previously held by Vice President Teofisto Guingona, Jr.

The 150 Lakas-CMD members voted unanimously for de Venecia after acting President and Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte nominated him for the post.

Belmonte would be keeping his post as executive vice president of the party while the position of co-chairman was abolished.

Others elected to the national directorate committee are Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay and Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers.

In his acceptance speech, de Venecia cited the party's move to shift to parliamentary government after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said she favors the change in the form of government.

According to de Venecia, the President's speech last Saturday at Clark Field, Pampanga was a major boost to the campaign of the ruling party to push for political reforms.

De Venecia said the party would also push for reforms in the electorate like the holding of elections once every five years and the public financing of political parties.

"We must think... beyond electoral victory next May... of how to stabilize our politics and to impose some continuity... and predictability... in the making of national policy," he added.

De Venecia lamented that the three-year term of local government officials are too short for them.

"This will put an end to political turncoatism in the Philippines and to actors and media personalities from getting positions in government," de Venecia said.