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06 MAY 2004 |
| Fil-Am leaders express support for GMA |
Leaders of Filipino-American groups in the United States have expressed support for the candidacy of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, saying she is the most credible, most experienced and most knowledgeable candidate for the highest position in the country. Don Veridiano, president of the GMA for President Movement in the United States, said in a radio interview Tuesday morning that he fully supports the President, as she is the most qualified candidate among the presidentiables. Veridiano, a Filipino-American businessman engaged in real estate, insurance, loan brokerage, financing, overseas placement and forwarding in the San Francisco Bay area and Northern California, said his group has launched a direct mail campaign prodding their families, relatives and friends in the Philippines to vote for the President in the May 10 elections. So far, they were able to send at least 100,000 letters, urging the recipients to elect the President. "Si Pangulong Arroyo ang magiging karapat-dapat na President natin sa Pilipinas dahil sa palagay ko siya ang most credible na kandidato sa lahat ng presidentiables (President Macapagal-Arroyo is the most qualified to serve as President of the Philippines because I think she is the most credible candidate among the presidentiables)," said Veridiano. Ernie Aguirre, president of the Filipino-Americans of Stockton, California said President Macapagal-Arroyo is without a doubt the most qualified for the presidency. "She is cultured and was raised by a seasoned political veteran, the late President Diosdado Macapagal, her father. She was educated abroad with exposure to domestic as well as international diplomacy. She was a hardworking senator and was an instrument on the Agrarian Reform implementation," Aguirre said. Aguirre further noted the President’s conduct in foreign affairs as regards terrorism and economics is a living proof of her professional ability in running the government. "Summing it up, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo can make us all Filipinos proud again," Aguirre added. Aguirre, who also heads the Filipino-American groups in surrounding areas from Modesto and Tracy in Southern California, said a lot of Filipinos support the President "even if they have not seen her before." "We have just one common goal and that is to unite behind the most respected, most qualified, most experienced and a very presidential representative of our country," Aguirre said. "We support and fully rally behind President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo." |
| Statement of Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye: Re Stay away from partisan politics |
We welcome the efforts and participation of retired police and military generals in the fight against electoral frauds for the coming May 10 elections but we have to remind them not to play into partisan designs to discredit the polls. We are just hoping that they will spare the institutions they formerly served from partisan politics and any hidden agenda. We must not taint the uniform with partisan politics. |
| Statement of Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye: Re No guns, no goons |
The President has a standing order for the PNP and the AFP to further intensify the crackdown on private armed groups and loose firearms in order to check election-related violence. She has called on all local candidates in election hotspots to exercise restraint and hold back their constituents. All must join hands in making this year’s election an honest and peaceful one. This is the time for us to do away with the sway of guns, goons and gold in the polls. |
| Statement of Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye: Re Forgery is a serious violation of law |
We have been tolerating unfair, baseless and even the foulest allegations from the Opposition but this is a different case since documents have been forged and the law has been violated. The court is the proper forum for this and we are hoping that the opposition would start readying themselves for the legal battle. |
| "Biyaheng Gloria" hits climax in Manila |
As the "Biyaheng Gloria" caravans converged in Manila Wednesday night, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo vowed anew to eradicate poverty and heal the wounds that have divided the nation. The President spoke to a crowd of about 50,000 at the Liwasang Bonifacio in front of the Post Office that welcomed the caravans from the North and the South that have been on the road for 45 days, drumming up support and collecting signatures endorsing her candidacy in the national elections Monday. "Biyaheng Gloria" is now in Manila to celebrate the bandwagon of support for our candidate, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo," said caravan spokesman Robert Bastillo. The Koalisyon ng Katapatan at Karanasan para sa Kinabukasan (K-4) standard bearer thanked all who participated in "Biyaheng Gloria" and resolved to work harder in uniting the nation because of their enthusiastic support. "If you’re that supportive to me, I am confident we can unite the country after the elections and I hope our plans be guided by the Lord Almighty," the President told the "Biyaheng Gloria" participants and the crowd that thronged to meet them. The President stressed the real action will take place right after the elections and expressed confidence about her chances because of the massive support she has been getting from the different sectors of society. Joining President Macapagal-Arroyo in welcoming "Biyaheng Gloria" were Manila Mayor and reelectionist Lito Atienza, his running mate Don Bagatsing and their full slate. The "Biyaheng Gloria" affair capped a very busy day for the President who barnstormed through Manila Wednesday with running mate Sen. Noli "Kabayan" de Castro, Mayor Atienza and Kris Aquino then did the same in Quezon City with Mayor Feliciano "Sonny" Belmonte, Vice-Mayor Herbert Bautista and congressional candidate Berna Romulo-Puyat. Among the groups that joined the caravans were Team Gloria Youth, Kasangga ni Gloria, Kalipi, KGMA, Kagabay ni Gloria, Bigkis Pinoy, United Filipino Seafarers, Kaibigan ng OCWs, National Aguman for Gloria, Muslims for Gloria, Pinoy Overseas Party, Guardians International, Grand Mass Alliance, NACTODAP and other drivers’ and operators’ associations that traveled to Liwasang Bonifacio from both ends of the archipelago. |
| Mass defections to GMA in Region IX reported |
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her running mate, Sen. Noli "Kabayan" de Castro, received a big boost in Region IX, with the defection of strong political groups from other camps. In Zamboanga Sibugay Province, the entire Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) lineup of gubernatorial candidate Freddie Chu announced its support for the President. This group includes Board Member Ignacio Baya, candidate for vice governor, and incumbent mayors Nonoy Chu of Kabasalan, Mustapha Adburahim of Naga and Juanito Gonzales of Imelda. They announced that they are convinced of the President’s sincerity and fitness for the job. Fifteen of the province’s 16 mayors now support President’s candidacy. The entire provincial leadership of candidate Raul Roco also announced to radio, print and television mediamen that they have switched to the President. The group is headed by Pagadian City mayoralty candidate Joaquin Pajares. Previously, the strongest political leaders in Region IX switched to President. Among them are former Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Antonio Cerilles and his wife, Governor Aurora Enerio-Cerilles of Zamboanga del Sur; and Congresswoman Cely Jalosjos Carreon and Congressman Roselier Barinaga of Zamboanga del Norte’s 1st and 2nd Districts, respectively. To Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP) has practically no more local candidates in Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur. All serious gubernatorial, congressional and municipal candidates in Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte are supporting the President and Mr. De Castro. With this development, both are expected to win heavily in the Zamboanga Peninsula. |
| Palace elated over peso rally, hopes trend will continue even after polls |
The peso has rallied anew amid latest results of the Pulse Asia survey which showed President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo pulling further ahead of actor Fernando Poe Jr. with a 37 percent support level, up from 34 percent from the previous poll. Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye today said the market appears to have shed off its jitters now that there is a growing trend showing the President ahead in the pack for presidency "These are leading indicators of confidence in the economy," Bunye said in a radio interview, adding that a victory of the President in next Monday’s election could further improve the exchange rate. The peso-dollar exchange closed yesterday at its strongest level in four months at P55.46, the strongest finish since January 14. Aside from the peso-dollar exchange rate, the nationwide inflation rate stood at 4.2 percent in April, the same rate as in the previous month, bringing the average rate for the first four months of the year to four percent, still within the government target of four percent to five percent. Bunye said the economic sector experienced some jitters at the start of the election period, where Poe led opinion polls. "Pero, ngayong lumilinaw yung trend na ang ating Pangulo ay hindi lang nakalampas dito sa kanyang pangunahing katunggali kundi, lumalaki yung kanyang lead ay nagiging kampante muli ang merkado (But now that it appears the President not only surpassed her main opponent but her lead has increased, the market is getting more stable)," Bunye said. Bunye expressed elation over the latest results of the survey but said the most important survey of all is the one on May 10. "Ang ating Pangulo ay patuloy na lalapit sa ating mga kababayan para ipaliwanag iyong kanyang program, yung fight for change na ating programa. Sana ay tangkilikin ng ating mga kababayan ang Pangulong Gloria (Our President will continue to explain to the people her programs and the fight for change. We hope the people would continue to support the President)," Bunye said. "She is still our best hope." Similar surveys by the Social Weather Stations and NFO Trends showing the President comfortably ahead shored up the battered peso and the stock market. |
| GMA asks people to unite in ensuring a clean, peaceful and credible election |
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today prayed anew and called on the people to unite for "peaceful and truthful" May 10 elections during a holy mass at the Sto Nino de Tondo Parish and at a rally attended by a huge crowd at Plaza Leon in Tondo, Manila. The President said she has been going around the country these past weeks not just to get votes, but also to enjoin and inspire the people to unite for the holding of clean, peaceful, and credible elections. "Like children (referring to the spirit of the holy mass Gospel (John 13-16-20), we should be happy and strong in the rendering of true service," the President said. Fr. Larry Faraon, O.P., officiated the mass. At the rally, reelectionist Manila Mayor Lito Atienza was roundly applauded when he emphasized that his many pro-poor programs and projects would not have been implemented without the full support of President Macapagal-Arroyo. Atienza said that just as he has strived to revive Manila, the President has also exerted her best efforts to revive the country since taking over at the helm of the government in 2001. The President has squarely faced the challenges of decades-old national ills she inherited from past administrations, Atienza said. As a result of its no-nonsense campaign against drug menace, the Macapagal-Arroyo administration has neutralized 27 drug lords and 22 laboratories and netted thousands of pushers, Atienza said. The President said she looks forward to implementing the six primary goals for the ordinary Filipinos in the next six years. These are, among other services and benefits, generating one million jobs a year, bringing electricity to all barangays and lowering and making competitive its cost, reducing the cost of commonly-used medicines and drugs by half, providing a scholarship for a child of each poor family, and building more schoolhouses and providing a computer set for every school. |
| Palace declares May 10 as special non-working public holiday |
| Malacanang today declared election day Monday,
May 10, 2004, as a special non-working public holiday throughout the country. Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo, who signed Proclamation No. 628 by authority of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, said the people should be given the fullest opportunity to participate in the elections. Under the Labor Code, as amended, in relation to the observance of declared special non-working holidays, the following rules shall apply in accordance with the memorandum circular issued by the Department of Labor and Employment: 1. If unworked, no pay unless there is a company policy, practice or collective bargaining agreement (CBA) granting payment of wages on special days, even if unworked; 2. If worked, the first eight hours plus 30 percent of the daily rate of 100 percent; in excess of eight hours plus 30 percent of the hourly rate on said day; 3. If the holiday falls on the employee's rest day and worked, first eight hours plus 50 percent of the daily rate of 100 percent; in excess of eight hours plus 30 percent of the hourly rate on the said day. |
| Boracay murder an isolated case, would be solved soon -- GMA |
BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today assured investors, local and foreign tourists, and residents of this island that the gruesome murder of three foreigners and a Filipina was an isolated case even as she expressed confidence that the police would solve it immediately. The President made an unscheduled visit here to personally look into the progress of the police investigation of the case. Boracay is known the world over for its white powdery beaches and world-class tourist facilities. During a briefing conducted by Chief Superintendent George Alino, Phlippine National Police (PNP) Western Visayas commander, the President described the incident as isolated and should not affect the tourism trade in the island. The President also expressed optimism that the PNP, with the help of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), would be able solve the slayings in a short time and the perpetrators brought to justice. Some 130 policemen, including crack operatives of the Criminal and Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Camp Crame, have been assigned to the case. Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo said with modern equipment and dedication to duty, the police have solved over the past months a number of serious crimes, notably kidnapping and drug trafficking, as well as the capture of several terror suspects in various parts of the country. The President also ordered the beefing up of security measures in the island, including the use of sniffing dogs, to ensure the safety of tourists in the island. In his report, Alino said that nine out of 25 persons so far questioned, have been placed under custody. Alino said that they are focusing on the bungled robbery angle in the murder of Swiss-born art gallery owner Manfred Schoeni, German property developer and owner of the Villa Anton Faustenhauser, British architect John Cowperthwaite and Filipina maid Erma Sarmiento. During the briefing, Alino also presented to the President the bladed weapons used in the murder which were recovered from the crime scene. According to Alino, the probers were following a hot lead which could bring an early solution of the murders. Alino confirmed that the killings were the first serious crime to occur in Boracay, adding that the island has always been a crime-free tourist haven. In fact, he said, thousands of local and foreign tourists have visited Boracay during the Lenten break. |
| Palace thanks INC for support in the coming polls |
Malacaņang today thanked the leadership of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) for its decision to support the candidacy of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her running mate, Sen. Noli "Kabayan" de Castro. Presidential Campaign Spokesman Michael Defensor said in a press briefing that the message of support was relayed to the President through a phone call. The administration ticket, he said, had requested INC Executive Minister Erano Manalo and his son, deputy Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo, to help and support the President, and "they have given it." "The Iglesia ni Cristo, however, expressed the hope that the President continues to ably perform her functions well and to continue her aspiration to achieve unity and peace in the country," Defensor said. Defensor said that the support of the INC in the coming elections is a big help to any candidate in winning in the polls. He disclosed that when he ran for Congress, he also got the support of the INC and this greatly contributed to his victory. Defensor said that the permission to formally announce the "support" was given yesterday by the Iglesia ni Cristo. He said that administration candidate Noli de Castro has also been given permission to announce the INC support for his candidacy. |
| Palace: Ruling coalition won't cheat; it's now leading in polls |
Look who’s talking. That in a way summed up the reaction of the administration to allegations of possible poll fraud by the ruling party in Monday’s presidential polls. "We are sorry to say that we are for clean and honest elections, we are leading in the surveys," said Presidential Campaign Spokesman Michael Defensor during a press briefing this afternoon in Malacaņang. Defensor said that the administration party has now a bandwagon of support not only from the local leaders but also from people’s organizations in the country. He assured the general public that the administration "has no motivation whatsoever to cheat and the motivation is, in fact, in the opposition." "Hindi kami gagawa ng pandaraya o kung anuman para sirain ang proseso ng halalan (We don' t have to resort to cheating or any form of fraud to thwart the will of the people)," Defensor said, stressing that the administration is firm in its stand for a "clean and honest election." Defensor admitted that they are still working on a possible miting de avance anytime soon but that they are still considering the security aspect in the wake of several threats on the life of President Gloria Macapgal-Arroyo. "As of now, the main problem of the team is the security consideration of the President due to the persistent threats in her life by groups who try to foment chaos in the coming elections," Defensor said. Defensor noted that if the miting de avance will not push through, the President might just have a final political rally where she can seek support from the people and also to call for unity and reconciliation. |
| GMA hits the ground running in Pangasinan |
LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—Does she ever get tired? Presidential aides including security personnel, campaign handlers and ordinary observers invariably asked this question as President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo appeared indefatigable with only two days left in the campaign period. This afternoon, the President virtually hit the ground running in Lingayen town in Pangasinan where she picked up the campaign trail following an unscheduled visit to the island-paradise of Boracay in Malay, Aklan to personally assess the progress of police investigation of the murder of three foreigners and a Filipina maid. It was her nth visit to the province which the opposition claimed was their bailiwick since her closest rival, Fernando Poe Jr., hails from the place, specifically San Carlos City. After the presidential chopper touched down at the Narciso Ramos Sports Complex in Lingayen, Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo lost no time in staging the Pangasinan leg of her Caravan for Unity that has so far cut across the vote rich towns of Lingayen, Binmaley and Calasiao, and Urdaneta City as of press time. As drawn up by campaign organizers of the ruling Koalisyon ng Katapatan at Karanasan para sa Kinabukasan (K-4), the presidential convoy would also cover the municipalities of Malasiqui, Asingan, Sta. Maria, Rosales, Sto. Tomas, Alcala, Bautista and Bayambang, as well as San Carlos City before proceeding to Tarlac City where a prayer rally for the entire K-4 ticket would be held in the early evening. The caravan would finally wind up at the Clark Special Economic Zone in Pampanga. As usual, the President made whistle stops in public markets where shrieking supporters and avid followers literally mobbed her. In Lingayen, Pangasinan Gov. Victor Agbayani and Vice Gov. Oscar Lambino led local residents in welcoming Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo and her official entourage. Townsfolk also lined up on the roadside, giving the K-4 team their warm welcome. Urdaneta Mayor Amadeo Perez escorted the President in her now famous "Palengke Tour" in his town. President Macapagal-Arroyo pledged earlier to step up her provincial sorties at the homestretch of the campaign in a bid to muster majority vote in the May 10 elections. |
| Opposition's "AKLAS BAYAN" plot exposed |
The political opposition has hatched up a plot to undermine the integrity and credibility of the May 10 elections through black propaganda, sabotage and violence, culminating with a projected EDSA IV, National Security Adviser Norberto B. Gonzalez revealed today during a press briefing at the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) headquarters in Quezon City. Code-named "AKLAS BAYAN," the sinister plan involves coordinated protest actions by civilians, retired and active military personnel reminiscent of the failed EDSA III uprising. "Conceived as a nationwide strike, AKLAS BAYAN aims to paralyze the business sector and convince the majority of the military and the police, and eventually, the international community, to recognize the opposition candidate as the legitimate President even in the event of an electoral defeat," Gonzales revealed. Gonzales said the plot would be set off with charges of massive cheating, followed by extensive brownouts to be instigated by the opposition’s dogs of war, then put the blame on the government. Punctuating the protest actions is a planned walk-out of opposition poll watchers, followed by calls to proceed to EDSA for a mammoth rally. "Another component of the plan is a bombing or a series of bombings of still unidentified target areas," Gonzales said. He added that the plot would also involve "the banding together of the losing opposition candidates to put up a united front against the leadership of President Arroyo, in the event that she wins the polls." According to Gonzales, selected urban poor communities in Metro Manila have already been alerted for this type of mass action, including those from Apelo Cruz, Pasay City; Camarin, Caloocan City; Laperal, Guadalupe, and Riles Area, Makati City; Talayan and Bgy. Commonwealth in Quezon City; Signal Village in Taguig; Bgy. Baclaran Muslim Community and Pinaglabanan, San Juan. The action "will consist of protracted rallies and demonstrations projected to last until business, the active military and police, and the international community will recognize an opposition presidency," the security adviser said "This plan has been pieced together by the intelligence community through reports from reliable sources whose identities shall be revealed in due time," Gonzales said. In response to media queries on his sources, the security adviser admitted that the intelligence information came from "disgruntled" members of Poe’s camp. |
