May 29 2007

Another attempt to impeach PGMA doomed -- Ermita

Malacanang said today that with less than 30 opposition congressmen elected to the incoming 14^th Congress, another attempt to impeach President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is doomed due to lack of "numbers."

Interviewed over DZMM radio this morning, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said that under the law, at least 76 votes, or one-third of the 230-member House of Representatives, are needed to file an impeachment case.

He noted that the opposition campaigned on a platform to impeach the President in this month’s mid-term election, but they fell far short of the number of congressmen needed to impeach her.

"Hindi pa nga naghahalalan ay pinag-uusapan na (ang impeachment), ngayon pa kaya kung ang oposisyon ay may enough numbers para makapag-impeach uli. Makapaghain ba uli ng impeachment laban kay Pangulo, iyan ang tanong," he said.

Based on the latest vote tally by the Team Unity headquarters, less than 30 opposition congressmen will be joining the 14^th Congress.

An attempt to impeach the President in the 14^th Congress would be the third try by the opposition to oust her through constitutional process. Two previous attempts were rejected overwhelmingly by the House.

Ermita stressed that nobody can stop the opposition from calling for the impeachment of the President, but "if you look at it – sorry guys," the opposition lacks the number required by the Constitution to impeach the Chief Executive.

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Statement of Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye Re: Political violence

We are in a fight to turn around our history of political violence and retribution. Like our economic turnaround, we are confident of steadily breaking down this cycle through positive actions (eg. special courts, more funds for investigation and greater protection of witnesses).

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo welcomes the help of our friends in the international community such as New Zealand to work with us to erase this legacy of violence and violations forever.

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Palace confident of breaking down cycle of violence

Malacanang said today that the government is waging a relentless effort to turn around the country’s history of political violence and retribution and "we are confident of steadily breaking down this cycle through positive actions."

Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said in a statement that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo welcomes the "help of our friends in the international community such as New Zealand to work with us to erase this legacy of violence and violations forever."

He expressed confidence that like its success in turning the economy around, the government would put an end to extra-judicial killings and other human rights violations through the operation of special courts, funneling more funds to the investigation of acts of criminality and providing greater protection to witnesses.

Also today, Executive Secretary Eduaro Ermita said the government is doing everything possible to stop human rights violations in the country, punish the culprits and ensure that the victims and their families receive justice.

Ermita admitted, however, that the refusal of witnesses, leftist groups and victims has stymied the government’s investigation of human rights abuses in the country.

In an interview with DZMM radio this morning, Ermita said the President has a standing order to all concerned agencies, notably Task Force Usig of the Philippine National Police (PNP), to wage a relentless investigation of the spate of human rights abuses and extra-judicial killings.

He added that the President has extended the mandate of the Melo Commission to June to enable the commission to complete its report on the extra-judicial killings and other human rights violations.

The Melo Commission, headed by former Supreme Court Justice Jose Melo, was created by the President in August last year to investigate the series of extra-judicial killings of journalists and militant activist, jail the culprits and "break the cycle of violence once and for all."

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PGMA to bring home $1.22-B investments from NZ

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (via PLDT) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is bringing home at least $1.22 billion in investments from her three-day visit here, according to Presidential Assistant Heherson Alvarez

From this amount, the biggest beneficiary is the environment sector with $1 billion going to a reforestation project, $150 million in a gold mining deal, $40 million for the local wood processing industry, and $30 million for the export of Philippine tropical fruits to New Zealand.

Alvarez said the $1 billion reforestation project which President Arroyo announced during the meeting with the Filipino community here would be financed by CK Tan of Shannolane who is based in New Zealand. The reforestation project in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur is scheduled to start as early as October this year.

In an earlier interview, Environment Secretary Angelo Reyes said hardwood species for lumber takes some 30 years to mature in New Zealand due to winter compared to only 15 years in the Philippines.

Reyes said the $150 million gold mine investment in Nueva Vizcaya was reiterated by Mr. Stephen Orr, CEO of Oceana Gold United, during his courtesy call on the President in Wellington Monday.

Reyes said Filipino mine workers are now currently training here and studying Oceana’s eco-friendly mining methodology.

Reyes said New Zealanders are also keen on bringing in raw lumber for processing in the Philippines that would greatly benefit the local wood processing industry.

Antonio Olizon, chairman of the Philippine Wood Producers Association, who is a member of the President's official delegation, said the local wood industry would gain some $40 million from processing raw lumber from New Zealand.

Olizon said businessmen here were enticed by the Philippines' proximity to Japan, Singapore, and Taiwan aside from being known as one of the world's top exporters of wood products.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said some $30 million worth of bananas, mangoes, and pineapples would be exported here as a result of the President's visit.

Yap said dairy companies here are also keen on expanding their operations in the Philippines which is among their top consumers of milk and its by-products.

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PGMA says interfaith dialogue big factor in attainment of peace, stabilitiy in South Philippines

WAITANGI, New Zealand (via PLDT) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said today that interfaith dialogue has contributed immensely to the attainment of peace and stability in Mindanao, as she thanked international allies of the Philippines for bridging a culture of peace and security not only in Mindanao but also in the Asia-Pacific region.

In her keynote address this morning before the 3rd Asia-Pacific Regional Interfaith Dialogue at the Waitaha Center of the Copthorne Hotel here, the President also congratulated New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark and the New Zealand government for hosting the interfaith summit, jointly with Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines.

"In security and social development, interfaith dialogue is not just an abstract theory. Rather, it is a major contributor to peace and stability in the South Philippine region of Mindanao," she said.

The President said the holding of interfaith dialogues helped bring about the ceasefire, now on its fourth year, with the Moro Islamic Liberation (MILF) that resulted in the "inflow of peace dividends from the international community."

In the Philippine experience, she pointed out, interfaith dialogue, economic aid, and social justice are powerful instruments against extremism and terrorism.

"Every new job we create amidst unemployment and poverty is one less reason for someone in poverty to slip into terrorism. These are the tools of what is now the "soft" power that form the core of our paradigm for peace in Mindanao," the President said.

The use of this "soft" power in the grassroots level, particularly with the help of the civil society and the Philippines’ foreign allies, is every bit as forceful as the "hard" power of military armaments in transforming conflict areas into communities of peace, she added.

After hosting the 12^th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) leaders summit in Cebu this year, the President said the Philippines worked for the inclusion of values-based interfaith education in the curriculum of schools at all levels.

"In accordance with this agreement, the Philippines has institutionalized basic madrasah education not just in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao but also in public elementary schools in Metro Manila that have a large number of Muslim students," she said.

A number of universities in the Philippines are already incorporating peace studies into their undergraduate and graduate courses.

The President also renewed the call made in the Cebu Declaration of the Asean for the training of media managers, journalists and journalism students on religious and cultural diversity.

"We renew the call for the review of codes of conduct and standards for the exercise of media responsibility, as well as for better dialogue between the media and the faith communities," she said.

The President stressed that the outcome of the interfaith summit and the holding of regular interfaith dialogues would make the region a pacesetter in attaining global peace and security.

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PGMA flies to Australia tomorrow for two-day state visit

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will proceed to Australia from New Zealand tomorrow for her scheduled two-day state visit during which the Philippines and Australia are expected to sign a historic defense cooperation agreement.

The President, together with Australian Prime Minister John Howard, will witness the signing of the agreement which will help professionalize the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), provide it with new equipment, and strengthen the country’s fight against terrorism.

The Department of National Defense (DND) has described the new security pact as a "fair, balanced and reciprocal agreement that promotes our national interests."

The President is scheduled to arrive in Canberra at around 4 p.m. (2 p.m. Manila time) and will kick off her State Visit Down Under with a reception by the Filipino community.

Three hours later at 7 p.m. (Australia time), President Arroyo will meet with Major Gen. Michael Jefferey, governor-general of the Commonwealth of Australia, and his wife, Marlena Jefferey, at the Government House.

After the meeting, the President will be feted to a State Dinner hosted by the governor-general.

While in Australia, the Chief Executive is expected to also meet with Australian Prime Minister John Howard at the Parliament House; receive the Leader of the Opposition, MP Kevin Rudd, and lay a wreath at the Australian War Memorial.

The President left for a three-day visit to New Zealand last Sunday, saying the Philippines "must continue to aggressively engage the world in order to modernize the nation, bolster our security, and attract new investments to lift up the poor."

In her departure statement before leaving for the Land of the Kiwis, the President said: "We will once again be advancing our economic as well as security interests through meetings with private investors and businesses locating in the Philippines."

"We will continue to promote the benefits of the Philippines with every ounce of our energy. Our nation’s economy is on a permanent path of growth and stability. We are the best value in Asia due to our well-educated and hardworking people," the President enthused.

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29 MAY 2007		.