This case is closed and the culprits will be subject to military and civilian justice.

There has been no red alert and the so-called plot is more hype than reality.

The people are indignant against those destabilizing our democracy at a time when the campaign period is about to begin.

There is only one way forward and this is through the ballot, and nobody in uniform has the right to intimidate the people in such a manner.

Those who insist on change outside the democratic process will be punished.

We will not accept flimsy excuses from erring young officers involved in partisan adventurism.

They should have known from the start the unlawfulness and the negative implications of their actions.

As to the civilian cohorts, they will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Meanwhile, I call on the opposition and all other political groups to condemn military adventurism in the strongest terms.

For the sake of the people and the nation, we must demonstrate a united stand for democracy and against its dectrators.

In this matter, silence is acquiescence.

The economy is well and moving upward but the peso is being pummeled by political bickering and electioneering, coupled with isolated military adventurism.

The President simply expressed her utmost concern over the fate of the country if the highest public office is entrusted in the wrong hands.

We take note of the fact that the President’s relative standing has improved compared to the previous survey.

The President will continue to fight for change which will improve the lives of the average Filipino through better education, improved health care, better rice production, clean water for every home and clean government.

At the same time, we take note of the survey of the Makati Business Club, which implies that the country would be in the best hands if the President is elected.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has appealed to member countries of the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC) "to contribute to a fairer global trading system."

Speaking before heads of 32 FEALAC delegations gathered for a dinner at Malacanang’s Ceremonial Hall Thursday night, President Macapagal-Arroyo also stressed the need for "an equitable and responsive international financial structures."

"We are seeking to complete more than a century of struggle against mass poverty and social injustice and their cohorts in crime, lawlessness and terrorism," the President said even as she prayed for realization of an even greater potential of FEALAC.

"We are on the right track. We hope and pray for an even greater potential of FEALAC. Let us then together ensure that this potential is translated into tangible gains for the greater good of our people," she said.

The Philippines is host to a two-day meeting of FEALAC scheduled to end today. The members of FEALAC include Venezuela, Thailand, Peru, New Zealand, Mexico, Laos, Japan, Guatemala, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Singapore, Uruguay, Vietnam, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Brunei, Argentina, the Philippines, Colombia, Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, China, Cuba and El Salvador.

FEALAC is an informal venue for dialogue and cooperation between East Asia and Latin American countries which have come together to establish a channel of interaction in the international system.

It is based on the principles of respect for each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity a well as understanding of each others’ unique culture and way of life, among others.

The Philippines recognizes the value of bringing the two regions closer together, and as a founding member of the Forum, has served in its traditional role of serving as bridge between Asia and Latin America.

FEALAC is rich in terms of trade and investment possibilities. East Asia continues to be a dynamic region and Latin America is a rapidly growing market of more than 400 million consumers.

There is also a vast untapped reservoir of tourism potential that can be developed through a better appreciation by the individual citizens of the FEALAC countries of the richness and diversity to be found in the member countries.

It is in the light of this potential that President Macapagal-Arroyo urged the foreign ministers, senior officials, ambassadors and other representatives present to unite and contribute more positive responses for the greater good of its people.

"Our expectation rests on the Manila plan of action to be adapted in this meeting. And I thank you because already it promises to be very successful," she said.

The President also asked them to take part and enrich their views on the political, economic, developmental, and other issues that can affect the good relationships of the countries involved.

Among those present were Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo, Senate President Franklin Drilon, Secretaries Delia Albert of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Estrella Alabastro of the Department of Science and Technology, Romulo Neri of the National Economic and Development Authority, and Edilberto De Jesus of the Department of Education.

Guillermo "Bill" Luz, chairman of the Makati Business Club and Miguel Varela, chairman of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines also attended the gathering.

The President said that for the sake of the people and the nation, it is time to demonstrate a united stand for democracy and against its detractors.

After Patubig, it’s now Paaral.

Harking back to the days when her father, the late Diosdado Macapagal was able to finish law with the help of a rich patron, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo told students of the Saint Francis of Assisi in Las Pinas City today that they are luckier in the sense that the government is offering them a student assistance program to complete their college education.

Speaking at the presentation of the Student Assistance Fund for Education for A Strong Republic (SAFE 4 SR), President Macapagal-Arroyo said the program would allow cash-strapped college seniors to graduate and become professionals through the grant of interest-free loans payable after two years.

"Sa aking paglilibot, nalaman ko na maraming mga magulang ang nag-iimpok para makapag-aral ang mga anak sa magandang kolehiyo tulad ng St. Francis kaya lamang kung minsan toward the end kinakapos na ng pera.(In my out of town sorties, I’ve learned that parents save for the studies of their children in good colleges like St. Francis, but eventually run out of resources in the end)," she explained.

The President, who only recently made the rounds of waterless Metro Manila communities launching her Patubig program, told the students that this was the same ordeal his father, the son of a laundry woman, suffered while he was a working student in the UST College of Law.

She recounted that her father was devastated after being advised to either stop working or stop studying at the same time because he had tuberculosis.

Luckily, according to the President, there was a good Samaritan named Don Honorio Ventura who shouldered his school expenses, allowing him to finish his studies and eventually top the bar.

"Maraming Diosdado Macapagal sa inyong henerasyon ngunit kaunti lamang ang nakakahanap ng Don Honorio Ventura (There are so many Diosdado Macapagals in your generation but only few manage to find a Don Honorio Ventura)," intoned the President.

This is one of the reasons, she said, that she decided to help solve the financial problem of many students by providing them with interest-free educational loans.

She revealed during the launching of the program at the Araneta Coliseum last Tuesday that government scholarship programs in the country reach only about 20 percent of students in private schools.

During the same launching, the Chief Executive said a total of P500 million has been earmarked for the students’ assistance fund, P200 million of which will be for Metro Manila alone.

SAFE 4 SR will be managed by the Commission on Higher Education’s Office of Students Services in collaboration with the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Youth Affairs headed by Dennis Cunanan.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s intention to put majority of the Filipinos under the coverage of a universal health insurance program could get a big boost from the P5-billion tax windfall the government got from an efficient tax collection system.

Health Secretary Manuel Dayrit said in an interview that the goal of the universal health insurance is to increase the present coverage of about 40 million Filipinos from 56 percent to as high as 87 percent by enrolling five million families or 25 million Filipinos in two months time.

"We need P3 billion to implement this and that is available," Dayrit said.

He said this is possible with the windfall P5-billion tax amassed by the government due to the efficient collection system of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and better management of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

Dayrit said P1.5 billion would come from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the remaining P1.5 billion would come from the earnings of the PCSO.

In her radio message last January 3, the President said she wants to expand the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) program to cover majority, if not all, of the populace.

"Sa ating pagpalawak ng Philhealth, ngayon nakararami na sa ating pamilyang Pilipino ay sakop na ng health insurance. Ito ay down payment at hindi ako kontento. Dapat universal health insurance o lahat ng pamilya sakop sa Philhealth sa mga darating na taon (By expanding the coverage of Philhealth, many of our countrymen are now covered by health insurance. But this is just a down payment and I’m not contented. It should be universal health insurance where all Filipino families are covered)," the President said.

Dayrit said those to be covered would be given a "family card" good for one year to be eventually replaced by a regular Philhealth card at the end of the year.

Dayrit said that the 20 to 25 percent coverage when health insurance started in the 1970s has significantly increased during the President’s administration.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will not be distracted by survey results and will continue to work for good governance and to uplift the life of the average Filipino.

Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye made the statement in reaction to the latest survey results issued by the Social Weather Station (SWS) showing the President at second place, nine points behind Fernando Poe Jr. and eight points up on Raul Roco

"The President will continue to push through with her program of good governance. She will continue to work for change for the average Filipino and she will do this in terms of more jobs, better food, better health care, clean government and clean water for everyone," Bunye said in a press briefing this afternoon.

Bunye said the President would do these in terms of providing more jobs, better food, better healthcare, clean government, and clean water for every Filipino.

He also mentioned the Makati Business Club (MBC) survey showing the President as the "best fit and most capable" among the presidential candidates to cope with the challenges facing the country now.

In the MBC survey, the President got 47.6 percent of the respondents, Roco was a far second with 29.3 percent, and Fernando Poe, Jr. got no votes.

The government will file criminal charges against the five Philippine Army captains and civilians who took part in the "Kawal Pilipino" incident.

In a press briefing in Kalayaan Hall in Malacanang, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Reynaldo Wycoco announced the filing of charges against Council on Philippine Affairs (COPA) secretary general Pastor "Boy" Saycon, Boy Montelivano, Atty. Azuden Baltazar and (Ret.) Gen. Pedro Navarro.

The PA captains to be charged are Marcos Serafica, Philip Esmeralda, Mohamed Yusof Hasan, Rembert Baylosis and Peter Edwin Navarro.

According to Wycoco, the announcement was made after the NBI gathered affidavits from the officers involved in the Kawal Pilipino incident. He said that some NBI agents are now gathering additional statements and pieces of evidence at the Philippine Army headquarters in coordination with Philippine Army Commanding General Efren Abu.

The NBI chief said that after the initial evaluation, they are endorsing the filing of charges for violation of Article 141 of the Revised Penal Code or the "Conspiring to Commit Sedition," and Article 142 or "Inciting to Sedition."

Aside from the violations, Atty. Baltazar, who introduced himself as Capt. Gabay will also be charged with usurpation of authority. The NBI will also filed disbarment proceedings against the lawyer.

Wycoco stressed that "another case that would be filed will be violation of Republic Act 8491, Section 34 or disrespect to the flag.