President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today said that maximum security measures are being worked out jointly by American and Philippine authorities to ensure the safety of US President George W. Bush when he visits Manila next month.

In her remarks this morning at the flag-raising ceremony of the Philippine National Police (PNP) at its headquarters in Camp Crame in Quezon City, the President said that the government is taking up proactive steps and beefing up its intelligence gathering and surveillance before and during the visit.

"We will leave no stone unturned to ensure that his stay in our country will be safe, fruitful and rewarding," the President said.

In a radio interview, Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said that when President Bush comes on October 18, his visit is to reciprocate the goodwill of a friend and should not be tainted with political color.

Bunye said the visit is part of international diplomatic practice by heads of states to friendly nations, like the Philippines, "at hindi siguro dapat bigyan ito ng political na kahulugan (and this should not be given any political color)".

Bunye also denied reports that Washington has demanded for the recapture of Indonesian terrorist Fathur Rohman Al-Ghozi, who escaped from the Camp Crame jail last July 14, as a condition for the visit to push through.

"As far as we know, there is no condition attached to the visit of President Bush," Bunye said.

Bunye said that PNP, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AP) and the other intelligence agencies are coordinating in the preparation of security measures during the eight-hour visit of Bush, who will be on his way to Bangkok for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting.

He also confirmed an offer by the United States for economic assistance to Mindanao but only after the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) could reach a peace agreement.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to step up the fight against criminality and all threats to peace and security to realize her vision of a strong Republic.

"The police is very important in the building of a strong Republic," the President said in her speech at the flag-raising ceremony of the PNP held this morning at its headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

The President said that one can say that a strong Republic has been realized and maintained only if the people feel that they are safe in their homes and in the streets.

"We have so many crimes to deal with, crimes in the streets, crimes in the highways, and high-profile crimes that are bannered daily in the newspapers," the President said.

The President also thanked the officers and men of the PNP for their total support for her administration, which they have expressed in a manifesto read by PNP chief, Director General Hermogenes Ebdane.

She also congratulated the PNP for the success of its anti-drug campaign which has already netted leaders of international drug syndicates, thousands of pushers, and P8 billion worth of drugs seized after spending only about P30 million.

The President ordered the PNP to duplicate its success against drugs in other crimes like hijacking and bank holdups.

"We must now train our sights on linkages between the underworld and those holding political power. The people must be aware of this threat and our people must not glorify rogue leaders masquerading as paragons of reform or good performance," the President said.

The PNP is now doing its best to pin down the mastermind of recent crimes to see if there are any political and underworld linkages at work and gather evidence to avoid any witch hunting, the President said.

The President also directed the PNP chief to see to it that police officers do not frequent nightclubs and other entertainment sites as this smacks of protection and corruption, referring to the robbery in a Quezon City KTV that reportedly involved some police officers.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo wants to heal the deep division in the country, by pursuing peace and order and economic reform programs, rather than think about the 2004 presidential elections.

"The President wants to concentrate on pressing issues and not be sidetracked by political sideshows," Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said in a radio interview after several opposition senators called for the President’s categorical declaration about her plans in the 2004 elections.

Bunye said that healing the deep divisions in Philippine society, strengthening the county’s economy and working for clean and honest elections in 2004 are the President’s top priorities at this time. The declaration, whether she will seek another term, or not, should be left to her discretion, he added.

"The President believes that she should concentrate on uplifting the lives of the poor by strengthening the economy and ensuring a favorable peace and order situation that will transform this country into a strong Republic," Bunye said.

What is important now is that ambitious politicians and other groups who want to grab power from her through extra-constitutional means should not use the people, Bunye said, adding that politicians who are impatient for power must wait for the constitutional opportunities to vie for it.

The President earlier appealed to politicians, particularly those in the opposition to think first about the welfare of the Filipino people and the country by not engaging in too much politicking.

MALOLOS CITY, Bulacan – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today called on the Filipino people to remain strong and united in the face of threats to the country’s democratic way of life brought about by politicking, particularly from groups who want to take over power by force.

"The present time dictates that we show true nationalism, that we stand for peace, unity and democracy," the President said in her remarks in ceremonies capping the "Linggo ng Bulacan," which coincided with the 105th anniversary of the Malolos Congress held this morning at the historic Barasoain Church here.

The delegates of the Malolos Congress, who framed the first Philippine Constitution and established the first democracy in Asia, did this "and we owe it to them to carry on what they started," the President said.

The President said that while her administration is focused on the grave problems confronting the nation, particularly in fighting poverty, crime and terrorism, it also has to deal with misguided and unprincipled politicians out to destabilize the government.

"On this hallowed and holy ground, let us stand invigorated and inspired to build a strong Republic that links our glorious struggle of the past with the hopes for the future," the President said.

The President lauded the province of Bulacan for its contributions and continuing commitment to the Philippine Republic.

"Bulacan is rich in history, in enterprise, in patriotism. The Congress of Malolos played an important role in the realization of our dream for independence," the President said.

In her speech, the President also announced that she has ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to build up evidence and avoid a witch-hunt in the reported involvement of politicians in the series of bank heists and robberies in the past month.

Concerned over premature disclosure of names, which could again degenerate into another circus, the President told the PNP to get to the bottom of the cases and conduct a thorough probe.

"Nais kong tukuyin ninyo at isipin ang utak ng mga krimeng nagaganap upang makita kung mayroon ngang koneksiyon and mga politiko at mga pulis (I want you to pinpoint the mastermind so we’ll know if there’s a connivance between the politicians and the police)," the President said.

"Kailangan magbuo tayo ng ebidensiya para rito at kailangan iwasan natin ang witch-hunting (Let us build up evidence and avoid witch hunting)," she said.

Later in his press briefing in Malacaņang, Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said that the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) is now concentrating on building airtight cases against the suspected politicians.

The series of bank heists, according to intelligence reports, is being done not only to destabilize the government but also to build up the campaign war chests of several politicians.

From Barasoain, the President visited Fort Magsaysay in Laur, Nueva Ecija as part of her continuing interaction with the different sectors of society, including those in the military.

"It is part of her duties as concurrent Secretary of National Defense," said Bunye. "As a hands-on President, she just wants to personally link up with the soldiers in the field."

The members of the US Senior Executives Mission to the Philippines, who called on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Malacaņang this afternoon, congratulated her and her government for instituting economic reforms.

"We want to work with you to see your agenda accomplished. We want to work with you to see the Philippines continue to be an important location for our investments and a place where we can be competitive in Asia on a global basis," Robert Driscol, senior vice president for the Asia Pacific Region of the mission, said.

The President replied that she wants too see their investments come in as a result of how well she is prioritizing the policy reforms of her administration.

The US senior executives discussed with the President and some members of her Cabinet such subjects as intellectual property rights, telecommunications, the energy sector, English proficiency, cargo open skies, trade and investments, and tourism.

On tourism, the President informed the members of the mission that her administration is concentrating on infrastructure in eight identified tourism areas in the country.

"We are putting our infrastructure with the help of McKinsey and the Department of Tourism in Metro Manila, Cebu-Bohol, Northern Palawan, Boracay, the rice terraces in Banawe, Laoag, Clark-Subic and Davao," the President said.

The President said that an airport is being put up in Coron, Northern Palawan with the Malampaya money, an international airport is also being built in Boracay, another airport in Panglao, Cebu, and facilities in Clark where international planes can land are being upgraded.

The President also said her government has identified roads that need to be unclogged so that it would be easier for tourists to go there.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today ordered the implementation of a standard rehabilitation program for the drug offenders confined at the National Penitentiary in Muntinlupa, Metro Manila.

The President, who commended law enforcement agencies for their successful anti-drug drive, said it is imperative to establish a standard and extensive rehabilitation program for inmates to prevent them from committing other crimes.

She told the sectoral representatives in the 11^th National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) meeting held this afternoon at the Malacaņang Heroes Hall that "one of the things undone" is the setting up of a rehabilitation program for inmates found to be using illegal drugs.

During the meeting, the President also emphasized the importance of the inclusion of universal coverage of the poor under the Philippine Health Insurance Program, or Philhealth, as part of the health program for a strong Republic.

She directed the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office to allocate funds for this.

Various topics were tackled during the NAPC meeting presided by the President to improve the plight and standard of living of the poor Filipino families.

These included the re-orientation of the objectives of the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) to focus on the regulation and supervision of cooperatives.