The vibrancy of Philippine democracy is matched by the exuberance of our stock market.

We are edified by the confidence shown by our financial market and investors in our ability to surmount the myriad challenges that usually exist in any election.

We condemn in the strongest terms this attack on innocent civilians.

The President has ordered a full investigation so that justice may be brought to bear on the perpetrators.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo witnessed today the signing of the deed of donation and turnover of five excavator grab units to the Office of the President from the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China.

Signing the deed of donation at Malacanang’s Reception Hall were Su Haitang, Deputy Director-General of the CPC Guangxi Committee, and Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita.

Among those in the rites were Secretary of the Guangxi Committee and Director-General of the Standing Committee of Guangxi People’s Congress Liu Qibao, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Li Jinjun, Ambassador Romeo Manalo, Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for Asia-Pacific region.

Liu presented to the President the ceremonial key of the YC13-6 mini excavator grab units produced by Yuchai Engineering Machinery Company Limited of China.

The President expressed gratitude to Liu for visiting the Philippines and for their generous donation to the Philippine government.

"Welcome. I am very happy to have you here. Thank you very much for this wonderful donation. This is a big help for the Filipino people," she told them.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo conferred today the Order of Sikatuna with the Rank of Datu (Gold Distinction) on outgoing Ambassador to the Philippines Li Jinjun of the People’s Republic of China.

During the brief conferment rites at Malacanang’s Music Room this morning, the President presented to the Chinese ambassador the award which also included a Presidential sash, medallion and plaque of recognition.

Expressing sadness over the end of the tour of duty in the Philippines of Ambassador Li, the President noted that he has shown exemplary dedication to his duty and utmost concern for the Filipino people.

"We are very sad that you will now leave the Philippines. It seems that it was only yesterday that you were here (in Malacanang) presenting your credentials," she said.

For his part, Ambassador Li thanked the President for the warm hospitality extended to him by the government and the Filipino people during his stay in the Philippines.

"It is very sad for me to leave your beautiful and hospitable country," Li said.

The President congratulates Ambassador Hilario Davide and Secretary Alberto Romulo on the election of the Philippines to the United Nations Human Rights Council.

The Philippines was elected today to a three-year term at the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC), in what President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo hailed as a recognition by the international community of the government’s sincere efforts to address the issue of human rights, promoting conflict resolution through interfaith dialogue and strong advocacy for the rights of migrant workers.

Philippine Ambassador to the UN Hilario Davide reported to Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo that the Philippines obtained a total of 179 votes, 43 more than what it received in last year’s HRC election when the country was elected to a one-year term in the 47-member Council.

Romulo welcomed the confirmation of the Philippines’ election to the HRC and thanked the Philippines’ partners in the community of nations for their "overwhelming support."

"The Philippines reelection to the Council is a clear vote of confidence for the Philippines and President Arroyo’s efforts to move further forward the global agenda of upholding and protecting human rights," he said.

"With this fresh mandate, the Philippines has been given another opportunity to strengthen further its advocacy in key human rights areas," Romulo added.

"This fresh mandate likewise underscores our Foreign Service Posts’ success in harnessing and sustaining global support for the Philippines’ initiatives in the United Nations," he said.

In congratulating Davide and Romulo, the President said in a statement that the Philippines election to the UN Council was a "recognition by the member states of our sincere efforts to address issues of human rights, promoting conflict resolution through interfaith dialogue and our strong advocacy for the rights of migrant workers."

In its bid for reelection to the HRC, the Philippines cited its commitment to strengthen efforts to address politically-motivated killings of media members and political activists, as well as sustain its leadership in promoting interfaith dialogue, advocacy of the rights of migrant workers and making the UN HRC a more efficient and effective organization.

Along with the Philippines, other newly-elected members of the UN HRC include India, Indonesia, Qatar, Denmark, Italy, Netherlands, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Belarus and Bolivia .

The UN HRC was created by the 192-nation UN General Assembly in March last year under Resolution No. 60/251.

The Philippine Stock Market (PSE) continued its record-breaking surge amid growing investor confidence following the country’s peaceful mid-term elections last Monday.

In today’s trading, the 30-company composite index finished up 31.49 points or 0.92 percent at 3,449.18 close with 3.1 billion shares worth P9.7 billion traded.

"The vibrancy of Philippine democracy is matched by the exuberance of our stock market," President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said in a statement.

"We are edified by the confidence shown by our financial market and investors in our ability to surmount the myriad challenges that usually exist in any election," the President added.

Market sentiments today were buoyed by good economic indicators, including the continued strengthening of the peso and the doubling of the net foreign portfolio in April ($243 million) compared to the same period last year.

Stock analysts said the stock market’s strong gains this week showed that election–related concerns were vanishing fast as "investors chose to focus on the bullish outlook for the Philippine economy."

The lift in the main index today erased the Feb. 3, 1997 record of 3,447.60. Overall, the stock market gained 2.5 percent this week.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered authorities today to leave no stone unturned in the investigation of the latest bombing incident in Cotabato City which Malacaņang condemned as an "attack on innocent civilians."

Three people were reported killed and 15 others were injured when an improvised bomb exploded today at a bus terminal along Magallanes Street in Cotabato City.

In a statement, Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye said the President strongly condemned the dastardly act and has ordered a thorough investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice.

"We condemn in the strongest terms this attack on innocent civilians. The President has ordered a full investigation so that justice may be brought to bear on the perpetrators," Bunye said.

Bunye said the President also ordered the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to provide assistance to the families of the bombing victims.

The agriculture sector recorded a 3.55 percent growth in production valued at P234.2 billion from January to March this year, or a 4.78 percent increase in gross receipts compared to the same period last year.

In his report to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said the fishery subsector proved to be the major gainer during the first quarter with its 8.52 percent production increase.

Yap said the gross value of fisheries output amounted to P43.7 billion, or 10.34 percent higher than last year’s record.

For the first quarter, Yap said the poultry, livestock and crops subsectors also registered production increases of 2.3 percent, 2.2 percent, and 2.01 percent, respectively.

At current prices, Yap said gross revenues from crop production reached P130 billion, livestock at P39.3 billion, and poultry at P30.3 billion.

TAYSAN, Batangas -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo visited today the Pinagbayanan Elementary School here where a high-school teacher and a poll watcher perished in a fire set off by five men who reportedly torched the elementary schoolbuilding used as a polling precinct in last Monday’s elections.

Wearing a simple gray suit and sporty black leather shoes, the President arrived at the schoolhouse at exactly 12 noon to see for herself where the tragedy happened, condole with the bereaved families and attend the necrological service for teacher Nellie Banaag.

The Chief Executive took the presidential chopper to the school site that is accessible by land only through a dusty dirt road.

The President was met by Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Oscar Calderon, who briefed her on the latest development in the investigation on the burning of the schoolbuilding that killed Banaag and poll watcher Leticia Ramos.

Two policemen from the Regional Special Operations Team (RSOT) and three still unidentified others are the principal suspects in the attack.

The President proceeded to the half-burned schoolbuilding and condoled with the school principal and teachers of the elementary school. Destroyed by the fire were two classrooms, the school clinic, guidance office and the principal’s office.

It was at the doorway of the classroom-cum clinic situated in the middle of the building that the gunmen reportedly started the fire after pouring gasoline into the building.

Calderon said the policemen-suspects had no business being in the area. Each school in the district was guarded during the polls by a nine-man security contingent composed of eight Air Force men from the nearby Lipa Air Base and one policeman. They were, however, posted 50 meters away from the school.

The victims had rushed to hide in the clinic comfort room after they heard gunshots, but they were trapped inside a 4ft x 4ft cubicle when the gunmen torched the classroom.

The President was accompanied by Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral and Education Secretary Jesli Lapus, both of whom later gave cash gifts to the survivors of Banaag during the necrological services held in a nearby chapel.

The Department of Education (DepEd) gave P50,000 cash to Banaag’s family, plus P20,000 "abuloy" from DepEd Region II.

On the other hand, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) gave P5,000 each to the families of Banaag and Ramos, in addition to the P2,000 assistance it had initially given to the families of the victims immediately after the tragedy.

The Government Service and Insurance Service (GSIS), for its part, gave the Banaag family a total of P262,246 in life insurance and funeral assistance, while the Philippine Secondary Teachers Association (PSTA) gave an undisclosed amount.

Banaag was a high school teacher who was serving as an election monitoring officer the day she died.