I condemn in the strongest terms the killing of broadcaster and local publisher Rowel Endrinal.

This incident is a desperate attempt to curtail the freedom of speech and of the press and will not go unpunished.

I express my deep sympathy with the family of the victim and assure that the full force of the law will be thrown against the assailants and the mastermind.

The PNP shall conduct an in-depth investigation of the case, identify and hunt down the suspects.

I shall keep in step with this case until it is solved.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Wednesday night assured the country's young leaders that she would continue working to provide the youth a better future.

"Maraming maraming salamat sa inyong suporta. Ang lahat ng aking ginagawa ay para sa kinabukasan ng kabataan. Sana patuloy tayong magsama-sama para sa ating kinabukasan, (Thank you very much for your support. All of my actions are geared to provide the youth a better future. I hope we continue to work together for our future)," the President said.

The President gave the assurance before some 300 youth volunteers from the National Capital Region (NCR) during the blessing of the Team Gloria Youth headquarters along EDSA in Mandaluyong City.

The young volunteers come from 26 school associations and students councils and the NCR Sangguniang Kabataaan (SK) Federation composed of the 17 SK chapters in the NCR.

The President then watched a video footage of her photographs taken since her childhood and the launching of the official jingle of the Team Gloria Youth campaign song.

Jose Matthew Tatco IV, president of the NCR SK Federation, said they already signed a manifesto endorsing the candidacy of the President at the Aristocrat Restaurant in Manila last week of January.

Signatories were the 17 elected SK leaders from Pasig, Makati, Marikina, Pasay, Valenzuela, Muntinlupa, Paranaque, San Juan, Malabon, Taguig, Las Pinas, Navotas, Caloocan, Quezon City, Pateros, Mandaluyong and Manila.

"The President, among all the candidates for the highest post in the land, was the only one who was able to present a concrete and viable youth agenda. Her good faith was shown by her numerous programs on youth welfare, education and economic development and poverty alleviation," part of the statement read.

Tatco said they gave the President the original copy of their endorsement and statement of support.

"We see something in her (President) that could provide the youth with a better future than the other candidates. We see the President is really working for the students' assistance program that opens many opportunities for the youth," Tatco said.

Tatco said the launching of the Team Gloria Youth signals the start of the SK campaign for the President.

BINANGONAN, Rizal -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assured the people today that the Philippine National Police (PNP) "has everything under control" after the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) received a bomb threat that turned out to be a dud.

President Macapagal-Arroyo, who made a stopover here in the course of a sortie to Rizal towns, immediately placed the PNP on alert.

"I am glad that the PNP has everything under control. The police acted swiftly in securing the DOLE building," she said.

The President said that the unidentified man, who made the threat, "may just be pulling a prank, but we still need to be extra vigilant since some groups may be out to take advantage of the heightened political environment to destabilize the government."

Labor Undersecretary Josephus Jimenez, who was at the DOLE Building in Intramuros, Manila, said that the office of Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas received two phone calls this morning from an unidentified caller warning that a bomb had been planted inside the building.

BINANGONAN, Rizal – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today visited this town, where she distributed 84 cheques with the total amount of P7.6 million to mayors of Rizal towns along the shores of Laguna Lake for environmental protection.

President Macapagal-Arroyo, who motored here with only vice presidential candidate Sen. Noli de Castro, said that she did not come to campaign for the K-4 (Koalisyon ng Katapatan at Karanasan sa Kinabukasan) candidates in the May 10 elections, but to do her duties as President.

To emphasize her point, not to neglect governance during the campaign period, the President came without any of the K-4 senatorial candidates. She did introduce Senator de Castro to the crowd.

The President handed the cheques to the mayors of eight Rizal towns with barangays nestling on the shores of Laguna Lake, the largest fresh water lake in the country. Part of the funds will be used to buy fingerlings for distribution to the Laguna Lake fishermen.

The recipients of the cheques were Gerry Calderon of Angono, Mayor Dindo Garciano of Baras, Mayor Cesar Ynares of Binangonan, Mayor Gil San Juan of Cardona, Mayor Joelet de los Santos of Jalajala, Mayor Jorge Bernardo of Morong, Mayor Nick Patena of Pililla, and Mayor Jojo Zapanta of Taytay.

The funds distributed by the President to coastal barangays, through their mayors, came as savings from the government’s P20 billion agricultural modernization program as well as income of the fish pen project of the Laguna Lake Development Authority.

"Sa aking pagbisita sa Talim Island, ‘yon ang naging bahagi ng aking karanasan tungkol sa kailangan ng karaniwang mangingisda at ‘yong mga leksyon na nakuha ko doon ay siyang ginamit ko para pag-ibayuhin ang mga patakaran sa pangingisda at sa Laguna Lake (During my visit to Talim Island, I’ve learned what the ordinary fishermen need. I use those lessons in strengthening regulations on Laguna Lake and the fishery industry)," she said.

Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo, who is only the second President to ever visit Talim Island in the middle of Laguna Lake, said that improving the fishery industry will help provide food to the average Filipino family.

Protecting the lake from pollution is considered critical to livelihood of the fishermen of Rizal.

From Binangonan, the President and her party were scheduled to proceed by land to Baras for inspection of a road project, and then to Morong, where she would participate in a Pulong Bayan (a town hall type of meeting).

Malacaņang assured the people today that the Executive Branch would continue to respect the independence of the Judiciary, along with that of the Legislature and the constitutional bodies.

Deputy Presidential Spokesman Ricardo Saludo gave the assurance in a bid to quash speculations that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s appointment of Sandiganbayan Justice Minita Chico-Nazario to the Supreme Court (SC) might adversely affect the independence of the High Tribunal.

In a radio interview, Saludo clarified that Nazario was among those recommended by the Judicial Bar Council (JBC) as replacement for retired SC Justice Josue Bellosillo.

Although Saludo admitted that Nazario was the eighth appointee of the President to the SC, he stressed that this would not influence the decisions of the tribunal

In the same interview, Saludo said the Palace also respects the independence of the Office of the Solicitor General even as it is under the Department of Justice.

Saludo pointed out that the OSG has absolute autonomy in the performance of its mandated tasks.

"Katulad nito, lubos din ang ating paggalang sa mga tinatawag na constitutional commissions, kagaya ng Civil Service Commission, ng Presidential Commission on Good Government at ng Commission on Elections (In like manner, we have absolute respect to the constitutional commissions such as the Civil Service Commission, the Presidential Commission on Good Government and the Commission on Elections)," Saludo said.

Saludo added that President Macapagal-Arroyo never meddled in the actions and decisions of the courts.

"Unang-una, ito talaga ang dapat na ginagawa ng ating gobyerno. (In the first place, this is what the government should do)," Saludo said.

BARAS, Rizal—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today visited Baras town in Rizal province where she inspected a P24-million road project considered as a catalyst for the accelerated growth of the municipality.

The President also said meaningful peace in Rizal can only be achieved by improving the quality of life of the people.

The President disclosed that Baras Mayor Dindo Garciano sought the national government’s assistance due to lack of funding for the completion of the said road project.

She said she took the money requested by Garciano from her social fund.

"I was told by Mayor Dindo (Garciano) that they don’t have the money to construct this municipal road and he requested for funding from the national government, and this road project is a an initiative from the President‘s social fund" Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo said.

Garciano thanked the President for going out of her way to personally deliver the fund needed to complete the Baras-Pinugay Road that links up with the Marikina–Infanta road to the eastern part of Rizal.

He reported to President Arroyo that the road project is already 70 to 80 percent completed.

BINANGONAN, Rizal—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo emphasized here today that there is no substitute for experience in public service to effectively run the country’s state of affairs.

In her campaign sortie here, the President maintained that efficient governance remained her top priority.

Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo is seeking a full six-year term under the banner of the Koalition ng Katapatan at Karanasan para sa Kinabukasan (K-4) party.

The Chief Executive stressed that for the people to attain a better future, they should look for experience in public service.

"The whole K-4 team is here to offer our sincerity and experience in public service to help a better future. There is no substitute for experience in serving the Filipino people," President Macapagal-Arroyo said in her speech prior to distributing checks to the mayors of nine towns and officials of barangays lying along the Laguna lake.

The checks, issued by the Laguna Lake Development Authority, worth a total of P7.6 million, represented what the President called dividends for the environmental protection of Laguna lake.

Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo was accompanied by the entire K-4 ticket led by Sen. Noli de Castro, her running mate in the May 10 elections.

President Macapagal-Arroyo later inspected a road project nearing completion in Baras town, Rizal province.

Later in the afternoon, the President and the other K-4 candidates held a multisectoral dialogue with representatives of local government units including, health workers, overseas Filipino workers and leaders of the recruitment industry in Morong, Rizal.