President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today vowed to eradicate the culture of corruption in the government even as she assured those facing graft charges as announced by the Department of Finance (DoF) that they would be given due process.

In a radio interview this morning, the President confirmed that yesterday she was given a list of those charged by the DoF by Finance Secretary Juanita Amatong.

"Ang masasabi natin nobody is above the law, pero lahat naman dumadaan sa due process (What we are saying is that nobody is above the law but we can assure them that they will all be given due process)," the President said.

The President was reacting to reports that the DoF is set to file graft charges against three officials of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and two from the Bureau of Customs (BoC) for unexplained wealth, diversion of public funds and falsification of public documents.

According to the President, a number of "big fishes" or top officials are now being subjected to lifestyle checks that she has ordered, particularly those holding sensitive positions at the BIR and the BoC.

She said that it is important to regain the trust of the citizenry in the fight against graft and corruption.

Our front line measures against this threat are information, vigilance and quarantine.

There is no cause for alarm and all concerned government agencies are doing their job to prevent and intercept entry. What is important is public awareness, unity and involvement.

The President has said time and again that the Supreme Court is the final arbiter of the law and we must always respect its decision.

They are driven by "trapo" politics, we are driven by performance and reform.

We will not stoop down to their level. President Macapagal-Arroyo will keep to the high plane and serve the public interest undaunted by grandstanding critics.

Moody’s assessment cites our sound economic policy and reforms, the steadying hand of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the high quality of our labor force.

Its forecast can be traced to the heady political atmosphere in the country, which must not be aggravated by excessive mudslinging, electioneering or doomsday scenarios.

We call on all the contending parties to focus on platforms and concrete plans.

The President extends her sincerest condolences to the family and loved ones of the late Vice President Salvador Laurel.

He loved freedom and valiantly fought for it.

He showed true statesmanship with his historic decision in 1986 when he joined forces with former President Corazon Aquino.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today called on the public not to panic in the midst of the reported outbreak of bird flu epidemic in some countries in Asia, saying that the people and the government did not panic when the region was hit by the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

"Hindi dapat mag-panic. Hindi tayo nagpanic noong SARS (We don’t have to panic. We did not panic during the SARS)," the President said in a radio interview this morning.

The President also assured the public that all the concerned government agencies, notably the Department of Health and the Department of Agriculture, are doing their best to prevent the entry of the bird flu into the country.

She said that the excellent coordination between the government and the public that prevented the spread of SARS in the country is a lesson that could be used in good stead to stop the entry of the bird flu into the country.

"Ang ating frontline measures na ginagawa dito sa bansang ito ay impormasyon, pagiging mulat at quarantine (Our frontline measures in this country were information, being aware and quarantine)," the President said, referring to the steps taken by the government during the SARS crisis.

She said that what is important is that the people should be aware of the problem, that they should be united and that they should get involved.

The program, called Students’ Assistance Fund for Education for a Strong Republic, or SAFE 4 SR, allows meritorious students to avail of loans up to P8,000 to defray whatever needs they have to complete their education.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today hailed a Supreme Court (SC) ruling postponing the execution of two death row inmates at the national penitentiary in Muntinlupa City.

"We follow the mandate of the Supreme Court. I have directed all preparations for the execution to stand down," the President said in a statement released this morning by Malacanang.

Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo said the high tribunal’s decision to defer the judicial execution of death convicts Roberto Lara and Roderick Licayan "comes as a relief to me."

"But I have always been prepared to enforce the law despite my personal beliefs about the death penalty," the Chief Executive stressed.

She urged the people to "patiently wait for the high court’s final ruling and continue to pray for truth and justice."

For his part, Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said the temporary stay of execution "shows that in this jurisdiction, the rights of the condemned to due process is respected."

Bunye also quoted the President as repeatedly saying that the Supreme Court is the final arbiter of the law and its decisions must always be respected.

In a ruling handed down today, the SC ordered a 30-day suspension of the execution of Lara and Licayan, saying it needed more time to decide whether or not there was enough evidence to reopen their case based on oral arguments and new evidence presented by the Public Attorney’s Office.

The bicameral Commission on Appointments (CA), in its plenary session today, confirmed the appointment of four Cabinet members, and the promotion of several ambassadors and generals of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Those confirmed from the Cabinet were Defense Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Foreign Affairs Secretary Delia Domingo-Albert, Budget and Management Secretary Emilia Boncodin and Press Secretary Milton Alingod.

Leading the generals, whose promotions have been confirmed, was Lt. Gen. Rodolfo Garcia, AFP vice chief of staff and concurrent AFP spokesman. He formerly held the rank of major general.

The Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) has a new chief. He is Dr. Casimiro A. Ynares III, son of former Rizal Gov. Casimiro Ynares Jr. and wife Rebecca, the incumbent governor of the province.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today swore in Ynares at the Study Room of Malacanang.

Ynarez replaced LLDA officer-in-charge Maria Fatima Valdes, concurrent chief of the Internal House Affairs Office in Malacanang.

A doctor of medicine graduate from De La Salle University, Ynares, who is still single at 31, is president of JMBC Philippines, Vel Chow Corp. Inc. and Maniju Enterprises Inc.

He is also director of the JNM Realty and Development Corp., Sports and Entertainment Management Inc. and the Rizal Dealership Corp.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today challenged the country’s business leaders to help unify the nation or gamble on untested leadership as she stressed her determination to fight for the changes the average Filipino desires.

"I see that the change wished for is in terms of a better life, particularly in economic terms as jobs, prices, livelihood and the like. I want to fight for change for the average Filipino and bring us together as we move forward in forging a modern nation," the President said.

Her challenge and remarks were made at the joint general membership meeting and induction of 2004 officers of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP), Philippines Inc., Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc., Port Users Confederation, Inc., Mindanao Business Council, Metro Manila Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Lucena City-Quezon Chamber of Commerce and Industry held this afternoon at the Fiesta Pavilion of the Manila Hotel.

"As business leaders of the nation, I know you share my hope – and concern. And you have a clear choice: You can help unify the nation around sound economic leadership, a concern for the average Filipino and enhanced standing in the international community. Or you can take a gamble on untested leadership toward governance and the prospect of the Philippines once again becoming the laughing stock of the world," the President said.

The President said her administration has rescued the economy from the precipice and stabilized the mess that it inherited from the previous administration.

"This past short tenure of my presidency was rocked by sieges on the government and global economic constraints, but the vision of EDSA Dos lives on," the President said.

The President said the upcoming election is not about her. "It is about you, it is about not going back to the past, it is about once and for all moving the Philippine nation and the life and livelihood of the average Filipino affected," the President said.

She said that during her administration, the country’s gross domestic product expansion was fastest since the Asian crisis, foreign investment surged to its highest in years, inflation is lowest in a generation, three million jobs were created under her watch compared to one million in three years before her tenure, wages improved by 11.2 percent, the number of household heads with jobs among poorest families doubled in three years.

"I will lead this nation to modernity, to economic strength, to serving the needs of the average Filipino with a chance for a better life," the President said, adding that the average Filipino and the Filipino family are her primary concerns because the form the backbone of the nation and "they deserve the fundamental change that we all aspire for them."

But the President warned that change will not come easily "with the forces of the past holding the nation hostage and exploiting the fears of the masses."

The President then vowed to fight:

• to change the culture of corruption, stop the scourge of drugs and wipe out terrorism;

• to insure that we move forward, not backward, and that government fulfills its basic promise that all Filipinos should enjoy dignity and prosperity;

• to lift millions out of poverty by creating six million jobs in six years, high paying jobs based on bringing international investments to the Philippines, making investments in people such as training and education, and opening up markets for Philippine products around the world;

• to provide full enrollment in the national health insurance program;

• to build 150,000 houses a year for our poorest and most deserving;

• to insure that every community has access to clean water;

• to bring electricity service to 1,500 barangays a year;

• to continue strengthening the country’s economic fundamentals that "will set us on a path to economic transformation."

The President said that she is ready to lead the nation "from a position of strength and experience" as she stressed that the country is poised for success.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today said the continued drive against kidnappers creates a good business climate that opens up job opportunities for the ordinary Filipinos.

The President said this as she presented to the media one of the most wanted kidnappers who surrendered last night to the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC).

"Kinikilala ng ating mga negosyante at mga investors ito dahil ang pagsugpo ng kidnapping ay nagpapaganda sa klima ng pamumuhunan at nagpapadami ng trabaho. Kaya itong ating anti-kidnaping drive ay alay sa pangkaraniwang Pilipinong gustong sigurado na may trabaho (Our businessmen and investors knew that our anti-kidnapping efforts promote a good investment climate that opens up jobs. That’s why our anti-kidnapping drive is for the benefit of our ordinary citizens who surely want jobs)," the President said.

The President, along with Presidential Adviser Angelo Reyes, the National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force (NAKTAF) chief, presented to the media Joer Abonales, also known as Joel Bunales, who was involved in two kidnapping incidents of a Japanese and a Chinese national.

The presentation of Abonales was held at the conference room of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) Command in Malacanang.

The President then crossed out the picture of Abonales in the list of the 17 most wanted kidnappers in the country.

"Nagagalak ako na i-announce na sa 17 most wanted, yung number 15 (Abonales) ay nakuha kahapon (I’m happy to announce that among the 17 most wanted kidnappers, the one at number 15 was nabbed yesterday)," the President said.

Abonales, a native of Ozamis City who carries a P500,000 reward on his head, surrendered through a civilian informant Tuesday night in Bicutan to the PAOCC headed by Police Senior Superintendent Leonilo dela Cruz.

Abonales is a member of the Pegarido kidnap-for-ransom group that operates in the National Capital Region (NCR) and nearby provinces.

Abonales was involved in the Sept. 26, 2001 kidnapping of Japanese national Mark John Giga and in Dec. 20, 2001 kidnapping of Chinese national Mae Ling Ang.

Giga was released without ransom that same day while Ang was rescued by the authorities two days after the kidnapping incident.

The President also commended Secretary Reyes and the officers and men of the PAOCC for a job well done.

Reyes said the government’s intensified anti-kidnapping drive would surely contribute in propping up investor confidence in the country.

The country has a great future to regain the momentum of change, hope for prosperity and economic development.

This was how President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo expressed her optimism and announced to the business leaders of the different big business organizations the momentum that her administration gained despite her short tenure in presidency.

The President told the country’s business leaders that her optimism was boosted when former SGV Chairman Cesar Purisima decided to join her administration as new secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry replacing Manuel Roxas II.

"I think my secretary of Trade and Industry is optimistic about our future for him to retire as chairman of SGV to join me in my administration at this time," the President said.

The President motored to the Fiesta Pavillon of Manila Hotel from her previous engagement in World Trade Center in Pasay City to address the joint general membership meeting and to swear into office the 2004 officers of the eight business organizations.

In her speech, the President asked the business leaders to help the government under her leadership and to strive for the modernization of the country and the improvement of the lives of the average Filipinos.

"Its time to stand up and be counted. I believe with your help we will move forward and modernize the nation and improve the lives of the average Filipino," she said.

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Governor and senatorial candidate Parouk Hussin also accompanied the President to the Manila Hotel.

The business organizations present in the joint membership meeting were the Philippine Chamber of Commerce Industry (PCCI); Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP); Philippines Incorporated; Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (PECI); Port Users Confederation, Inc. (PUCI); Mindanao Business Council (MBC): Metro Manila Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MMCCI), and Lucena City-Quezon Chamber of Commerce and Industry.