President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, elated over the passage of the much-awaited anti-terror bill by the Senate, said today the government’s all-out war against terror would now have legal teeth and would make the Philippines a stronger player in the world in the fight against terrorism.

In a statement released by the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) this morning, the President thanked the Senate for the passage of the (anti-terror) bill, saying it is "an institutional landmark of the 13^th Congress" that she hoped would get the approval of the bicameral conference committee.

"I acknowledge the Senate for the passage of the anti-terror bill. All peace-loving Filipinos are looking forward for its quick approval at the bicameral level and I will wait for it, pen in hand, at my desk," the President said.

"Now that we have more legal teeth in this fight, we shall continue to sharpen the intelligence and operational capabilities of the Armed Forces and Police, modernize and further professionalize them, and broaden the domestic and international alliance that will give us the edge to win and prevail," she added.

According to the President, the passage of the bill into law is timely as the "world looks upon the Philippines as a strong global player in the fight against terror," with the inevitable defeat of the homegrown terror group Abu Sayyaf, due to the government’s all-out war against them.

The President said an anti-terror law would stand alongside the ASEAN Anti-Terror agreement signed by the leaders of the 10-member regional grouping at the end of the 12^th ASEAN Summit held in Cebu last month.

She said it would bring together the common fight of member-countries against terror to achieve regional security and prosperity and eventually eradicate poverty.

"A Philippine Anti-Terror Law will stand beside the ASEAN anti-terroism accord to consolidate the common fight across borders and help bring forth greater security, more vibrant trade and a stronger hand to defeat poverty throughout the region," the President stressed.

She called on all institutions to continue to be vigilant against terror which she described as "a grave threat to freedom and our democratic way of life."

Voting 16-2 last night, the Senate passed Senate Bill 2137, renamed the Human Security Act of 2007 after ensuring enough safeguards are in place to prevent it from being used to abuse human rights.

President Arroyo has placed the fight against terrorists and terror acts on top of her agenda as she believes that peace and order is an essential factor in growing the country’s economy.