The PNP and other law enforcement agencies are already exhausting all means in solving this case, as well as previous cases involving former rebel leaders.

The cases may be the result of internal conflicts within the revolutionary left but nevertheless they are a travesty of justice.

It is very clear that justice will continue to take its course alongside the President’s acceptance of the apology of the young officers.

We have to bear in mind that the Magdalo leaders themselves have not asked for special treatment in return for their action, so we must leave the matter to stand.

The important thing is that the cause of reconciliation with justice has been served.

Malacaņang today condemned as a travesty of justice the killing of Arturo Tabara, a leader of a breakaway faction of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CCP), and his companion.

Tabara, and Stephen Ong, reportedly a boyfriend of Tabara’s daughter, were gunned down by unidentified assailants at the parking lot of SM Fairview in Quezon City early Sunday evening.

In a statement, Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye said the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other law enforcement agencies were exhausting all means to solve the murders and render justice to the victims and their families.

The attack could have been triggered by "internal conflicts within the revolutionary left," but nevertheless the killings were a "travesty of justice," Bunye said.

Bunye assured the public that authorities were undertaking measures to provide adequate protection to former rebels who have rejoined mainstream society.

Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye today attributed the sound performance of the economy over the past few months to the skillful hand of the national leadership in steering the country out of its financial woes.

Despite the challenges confronting the country, the economy has shown sturdy resiliency, and measures are being implemented to solve the twin problems of a burgeoning budget deficit and mounting borrowings.

Confidence in the country remains steadfast as shown by the continuing upbeat performance of the stock market and the entry of new investments.

Bunye said that the government’s "economic team is on the ball and all possible measures being implemented to solve our budget and debt problems are on the right track."

We are confident of our collective success," Bunye added, referring to the pledge of support by Congress on the President’s wide-ranging reforms.

The President has called for understanding of the urgency that new revenue measures, which she has submitted to Congress, are enacted.

She pointed out that the government could not subsist on borrowed funds and risk the specter of an irreversible budget deficit situation.

Malacaņang today said the fate of Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) President-General Manager Winston Garcia is up to Finance Secretary Juanita Amatong.

In a radio interview this morning, Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye said that the performance of GSIS, which is under the Department of Finance (DOF), is currently being reviewed by the DOF.

"Ayaw lang natin pangunahan iyong department head (We don’t want to preempt the DOF head)," Bunye said.

He said he was confident DOF would come out "in due time" with its findings on the performance of all government-owned or controlled corporations (GOCCs) and government financial institutions (GFIs), including GSIS.

There is an ongoing review of the performances of the GOCCs and GFIs, he said.

Bunye also clarified that actress Elizabeth Oropesa has not been appointed to any position in the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. "We are sure about that," he added.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today ordered Customs Commissioner George Jereos to prepare an "order of battle" against bigtime smugglers along the same iron-fist policy employed by the government against kidnappers and drug lords.

Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said the President issued the instruction to Jereos in today’s Customs Command Conference at Malacanang’s State Dining Room.

"The President reiterated her instruction to the Commissioner to really go hammer and tongs after the smugglers," Bunye said.

Bunye also said that the President has issued executive order (EO) 363 giving the Customs Commissioner broad powers to go after smugglers, especially of rice, sugar, vegetables, vehicles, alcohol and dangerous drugs.

Under EO 363, Jereos was empowered to assume the functions of the defunct Economic Intelligence and Investigation Bureau (EIIB) to combat smuggling outside the Customs area.

Current rules and regulations limit the power of the Customs Commissioner to conduct anti-smuggling operations within the Customs area.

Under EO 363, the President directed Jereos to:

l) Prepare and implement appropriate and effective measures to prevent and suppress all forms of smuggling, especially rice, sugar, vegetables, vehicles, alcohol, and dangerous drugs.

2) Effect searches, seizures and arrests on smuggling cases or apply for issuance of judicial warrants as may be necessary.

3) Investigate, file and prosecute criminal, civil and administrative cases against smugglers.

4) Enlist the assistance of any department, bureau, office or agency or instrumentality of the government, including government-owned or controlled corporations to carry out anti-smuggling functions, including its personnel, facilities and resources.

5. Perform such other functions and carry out activities as may be directed by the President.

A special team of prosecutors from the BoC will assist the Customs chief in the expeditious prosecution of cases involving smuggling. The team will be assisted by lawyers to be selected and recruited by the Customs Commissioner from other government agencies.

The President also enjoined all government agencies, whose functions are related to EO 363, to extend assistance to the Customs Commissioner when "circumstances so warrant" and upon his request exchange "information, manpower, facilities and resources."

Earlier, the President said she was giving the newly-installed BOC commissioner two months to stamp out smuggling.

She said that there will be no sacred cows in the government’s fight against smuggling. She noted that smugglers corrupt our bureaucracy, weaken the country’s industries and deprive the treasury of much needed funds.

During the conference, Jereos presented to the President a list of 112 cases filed against alleged smugglers, including 60 cases related to the tax credit scam.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today condemned the latest killing of journalists and ordered the police to intensify follow-up operations against the perpetrators, Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio R. Bunye said.

"Today" assistant business editor Jose Luis Villanueva was stabbed to death by three cellphone snatchers while he was on his way home in Makati City Friday morning.

Meanwhile, Christopher Misajon of GMA 6 Iloilo City died yesterday from a bullet wound in the stomach when he was shot by a cellphone snatcher.

"Ito pong pagpaslang ay lubhang nakakalungkot (These killings are a tragedy)," Bunye said.

"Nararapat lamang na ang ating mga kapatid sa media ay mabigyan ng kaukulang proteksyon ng awtoridad (It is only fitting that our brothers in the media get the appropriate protection from our authorities)," Bunye said.

Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye today urged the Magdalo group to stop questioning the jurisdiction and the composition of the court martial so that proceedings on their case could finally move on and resolutions could at last be reached.

"Iyon ay desisyon nila pero ito ay isang pamamaraan para higit na mapabilis itong proceedings sa military court (Such decision is theirs but this is one way for them to expedite the proceedings in the military court)," Bunye said in his regular briefing.

Bunye noted that the question on the jurisdiction of the court Martial is hindering the proceedings.

Bunye also reiterated that the government is not giving amnesty to the mutineers as quid pro quo for their apology to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

"We have said that the question of amnesty has never been considered. The young Magdalo officers have not asked for any concessions at this point. That is what is good in what they did. They showed their sincere repentance for the July 27, 2003 incident and they promised that it will not happen again," Bunye said.

The six junior officers who led the Oakwood mutiny in Makati City have apologized to President Macapagal-Arroyo for having staged the uprising.