We acknowledge all moves to encourage a healthy and open debate on our tax reform measures and we recognize the inherent right of any group to intervene in the democratic process to promote its vision or position.

It is unfair to paint politics and sow negative impressions on such moves at promoting dialogue and consensus.

As we broaden the horizons of political unity and economic growth, the NDF must now come into the mainstream and discard the option of armed revolution.

A ceasefire is feasible and will bring the peace talks to a principled conclusion.

The indemnification of Martial Law human rights victims is long overdue.

They had waited too long and have endured protracted legal battles so there is no more reason for government to further delay their compensation.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today inaugurated the 1.2-kilometer, P678.85 million C-5/Boni Serrano-Katipunan interchange in Quezon City, a project designed to help ease the traffic gridlock in northern Quezon City and the neighboring cities and towns.

Arriving at the site at exactly 10 a.m., President Arroyo led the ribbon-cutting ceremony and the unveiling of the marker of the project, signaling the formal opening of the interchange.

She was accompanied by Public Works and Highways Secretary Florante Soriquez, Quezon City Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista, and Deputy Chief of Mission Minister Akio Igawa of the Japanese embassy in Manila.

Funded by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), the project was constructed by the China State Construction Engineering Corp., with Japan Overseas Consultants Co., Ltd, in association with TCGI Engineers as consultants.

Construction of the project started on March 21, 2002 under the supervision of the Urban Road Projects Office (URPO) of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Briefing the President, Soriquez said that with the completion of the project, overall traffic distribution in Metro Manila would be enhanced, travel time of people, goods and services would significantly be shortened, fuel and vehicular operating and maintenance costs would be reduced, and local government units (LGUs) in the nearby areas would benefit from higher land value and property taxes.

Investments, as well as employment and livelihood opportunities, are also expected to increase in the areas around the new structure, Soriquez added.

The project involved the construction of a four-lane flyover connecting E. Rodriguez and Boni Serrano Avenues; a four-lane tunnel connecting Boni Serrano and Katipunan Avenues; and northbound and southbound service roads along E. Rodriguez Ave. and Katipunan Ave.

The multi-million peso project also involved the widening of Katipunan Ave., from the intersection up to the St. Ignatius Subdivision, landscaping and other "miscellaneous works."

Saying balancing the budget is a function of efficient, equitable collection of taxes, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today praised the Bureau of Customs (BOC) for its highest level of tax collection in history.

Speaking at the 103^rd Founding Anniversary of the bureau in South Harbor, the President said the BOC’s high tax collections compared to target and compared to last year are proof not only of the growing efficiency but better moral and discipline among its ranks.

"Popular acceptance of new taxes largely depends on our efficiency to collect taxes under existing laws," she explained. "Honest tax collection is your main task. That is why, let me take this opportunity to congratulate you on your highest level of tax collections in history."

"We will beat them in their own game," she stressed.

The President said the days of smugglers are numbered.

She said BOC’s achievement did not happen by accident, they are the results of day-to-day leadership of good commissioners, the perseverance of diligent personnel and the complimentary work of related agencies.

Pointing out that the scope of the bureau is stretching out globally, she added that the BOC is a vital cog in bringing the Philippines to an area of greater stability and competitiveness and in creating more jobs and more income for the people.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today directed Commissioner George Jereos of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to immediately file criminal charges against the consignees of the "hot goods" worth P26.9 million the bureau has seized and impounded.

The President today graced the 103^rd founding anniversary program of the BOC at the Manila South Harbor where she also inspected four luxury motor vehicles and a number of container vans of hot cargo seized by the bureau.

Mrs. Arroyo was escorted by BOC Commissioner George Jereos and outgoing Finance Secretary Juanita Amatong during the inspection.

Keynoting the anniversary rites, the President ordered Jereos and his operatives to be more aggressive in their anti-smuggling drive and promptly file appropriate charges against owners of confiscated hot goods piling up at the Customs warehouses

"Today, as part of the celebration of the Customs anniversary, I am asking George Jereos to make sure that the consignees of all the seized goods that we inspected will received their charge sheets also today," the Chief Executive said.

The President explained that expediting criminal charges is also part of the procedural reforms the government is implementing to uplift the quality of service and reverse the stigma of corruption in the BOC.

The seized goods impounded by Customs, she added, can be considered prima facie evidences that would justify the filing of criminal charges against the owners of the illegal commodities.

"We’re not only intercepting more contrabands as what was shown to me by your officials when I arrived. We should make smugglers think twice. The days of smugglers are numbered. We’ll beat them in their own game," the President warned.

President Arroyo also inspected the biggest shipment of high-end cellular phones worth P15 million which arrived at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) from Singapore last month. It was consigned to Libra Trading and was misdeclared as electrical materials.

Another shipment worth P5 million of pirated DVD discs was also found misdeclared as plastic accessories from Malaysia. It was consigned to Mindomar Trading and unloaded at the MICP last year.

About P1.5 million worth of Maling luncheon meat cans consigned to Shumacher Enterprises were also seized at the Port of Manila by the Intelligence and Enforcement Group (IEG) after it was discovered as misdeclared as 3,680 cartons of plastic toys from China.

The CASG also seized one Nissan Lagro and a Nissan Prairie worth P1.5 million for violation of Republic Act 8506, which bans the importation of right-hand drive vehicles. Consigned to Katherine Yu Gabriel, the vehicles were also misdeclared as personal effects from Japan.

Two other vehicles, a Toyota RAV 4 and a Land Cruiser complete the four hot vehicles impounded by the BOC’s Vehicle Importation Compliance Monitoring Unit (VICMU-IEG). They were intercepted while being brought out from the Subic Freeport Zone without paying proper duties and taxes.

The RAV 4 attempted to use a fake No. 8 license plate while the Land Cruiser used a commemorative SBMA plate and LTO plate RCE783.

Also inspected by the President was a Toyota Lexus RX300, forfeited in favor of the government after due seizure proceedings for violation of the

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye today reiterated President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s commitment to help and compensate human rights victims of the Marcos’ martial law regime.

In a radio interview, Bunye said President Arroyo has earmarked P8 billion from the recovered ill-gotten wealth of the Marcos family for this purpose, and has instructed the Department of Budget and Management not to touch the amount she has set aside for the human rights victims.

The money came from a Marcos US$684-million deposit with a Swiss bank, now worth billions of pesos, which has since then been turned over to the Philippine government.

Bunye, however, pointed out that President Arroyo has asked Congress to enact a law to officially allocate the amount as compensation for the human rights victims since existing laws provide that money recovered from the Marcos’ ill-gotten wealth must all go to the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

He said the President has also made known she leaves to the discretion of Congress the actual amount to be earmarked for the human rights victims.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today said that employes of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) who perform their duties faithfully and well have nothing to worry about the new Accountability Reform Law.

In her speech at the 103^rd Founding Anniversary celebration of the BOC this morning at the social hall of the bureau’s main building in South Harbor, Manila, the President said the new law would be used neither as a "means of political vendetta nor for sham rewards, nor for unjust punishment."

The new law, she stressed, would be "used to build faith in good governance."

The Attrition Act of 2005, or Republic Act 9335, provides for a system of reward for personnel who surpass their revenue collection targets, and punishment, including dismissal, for those found guilty of certain offenses.

The President emphasized that the Attrition Law is a tool for reform. "Job security and compensation are now tied to performance. We shall set the goals fairly, measure the results transparently and make the firm moves to proscribe or reward those deserving either way."

She also called for greater aggressiveness among BOC officials in filing criminal charges against smugglers. While expressing elation over customs’ confiscations of smuggled items, the President wished that "we were more aggressive in filing cases" in court against suspects.

"So, today, as part of your celebration, I am asking (Customs) Commissioner George Jereos to make sure that the consignees of all those seized goods that we have inspected will receive a charge sheet today," the President said.

The Chief Executive congratulated BOC officials and employes for the continuing seizures of contraband goods at the waterfront. Those apprehensions, she said, did not happen by accident.