We wish the former President a full and speedy recovery.

The human rights victims will get there fair share, but it must be emphasized that the bulk of the proceeds will go to the land reform program.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye today said Senator Aquilino Pimentel’s call for the Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa) to file impeachment charges against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is ill-timed as the government is now in the midst of initiating reform measures.

Speaking before the Philconsa yesterday, Pimentel accused the President of betraying public trust by using the road users’ tax and OWWA funds for purposes other than what they were intended for.

In a radio interview this morning, the Press Secretary said Congress is busy right now in debating on various fiscal reforms and an impeachment case against the President can distract lawmakers from their work.

"Mukhang wala sa panahon itong panawagan ni G. Pimentel … ito ay nakaka-distract" (Mr. Pimentel’s call seems ill-timed . . . it is distracting), Secretary Bunye said.

The Press Secretary stressed that the projects of the President "are constitutional and legal" and all these will "redound to the benefit of the people."

He also challenged Senator Pimentel to go through the legal process in his impeachment call and not course it through the media. He stressed that the Arroyo administration is ready to answer all his allegations "point by point."

We consider the healthy debate on the expanded VAT bill before the Senate as a way of enhancing and perfecting this tax measure.

We are optimistic that its passage and enactment into law would happen within a reasonable period.

Admiral Thomas B. Fargo, outgoing United States Pacific Command (PACOM) chief, lauded today President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for her excellent job in formulating the defense reform program that is expected to improve the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

In a chance interview with Fargo after his farewell call on the President at Malacaņang this morning, the U.S. official commended the efforts initiated by the Arroyo administration in implementing reforms in the Philippine military.

"I think the defense reform program that the President has initiated is excellent. I had looked at it very carefully; I just completed extensive discussions in Washington, D.C. on it, I think it is a very well-formulated program that is properly funded and its going to have a very positive impact on the reform in the Philippine military," said Fargo.

President Arroyo conferred on Fargo the Philippine Legion of Honor Award, Rank of Commander, in simple rites held at the Reception Hall of Malacaņang after their brief meeting at the Music Room.

Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz, Jr., Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo, AFP Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Efren Abu and U.S. envoy to the Philippines Ambassador Francis Ricciardone witnessed the ceremony.

"The meeting with the President is great, the United States and the Philippines have a long standing treaty allies and are great partners. I have the pleasure of knowing the President this past four years and our relationship is very strong," Fargo commented.

The discussions were focused on the RP-US military-to-military security cooperation activities, including the Philippine Defense Reform program and enhancing sustained capacity to counter regional terrorism.

First Gentleman Jose Miguel T. Arroyo completed Wednesday the service coverage of his "Bagong Ngiti sa Dating Ngebu" project to the police forces in Metro Manila when he led the distribution of free dentures to toothless personnel of the Northern Police District (NPD).

The ceremonial distribution of the free dentures to the NPD personnel was held at its headquarters compound in Barangay Tanigue, Kaunlaran Village, Caloocan City where Mr. Arroyo personally witnessed the fitting and distribution of dentures to 125 beneficiaries.

NCRPO Director Gen. Avelino Razon, NPD Director Chief Supt. Noe Albano Wong and other police officials also attended the occasion.

The newest batch of the project’s beneficiaries included policemen, from PO1 to SPO4, and non-uniformed employees assigned at the different NPD police stations and units in Caloocan City, Valenzuela City, Malabon City and Navotas.

At least 599 policemen, civilian staff personnel and their immediate families from the five police districts in the National Capital Region have already benefited from the First Gentleman’s free dentures project.

Gen. Razon thanked Mr. Arroyo for his generosity in bringing his project to NCRPO police districts, describing the project as truly laudable.

He noted that the First Gentleman has been reaching out to all people particularly the indigents through his various charity projects.

In response, Mr. Arroyo assured that his project will continue and additional beneficiaries from the NCR police will be accommodated.

The First Gentleman also said the project would soon include street sweepers from the "Kalsada Natin Alagaan Natin" project and the traffic enforcers from the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

He also announced the expansion of the project to the police forces in the various regions, starting with Region III in Camp Olivas, Pampanga.

Indigent residents from the second district of Pampanga will also be included as beneficiaries of the project.

Mr. Arroyo will fly to Pampanga Thursday to personally witness the fitting and distribution of the dentures to the beneficiaries.

Originally conceived for poor market vendors in 10 public markets in Metro Manila, Mr. Arroyo’s free dentures project has already benefited the NCR police force, Presidential Security Group (PSG) personnel and dependents, low-salaried health workers and other personnel of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), poor residents of Santiago City, Isabela and special clients, including media people.

Since its launching in October 2004, some 1,713 have benefited the Bagong Ngiti sa Dating Ngebu of the First Gentleman.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today appointed National Security Adviser Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr as the new Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways vice Florante Soriquez who returns to his old past as DPWH Undersecretary.

In a press briefing at Malacanang, Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said the President appointed Ebdane because she has trust and confidence in the former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief’s ability to contribute substantially to the implementation of her 10-point legacy agenda.

Bunye said the President has also ordered Soriquez to answer the corruption charges of Congressman Rodolfo Plaza of Agusan del Sur.

The President has likewise named Presidential Chief of Staff Norberto Gonzalez as National Security Adviser vice Ebdane.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today appointed Presidential Chief of Staff Norberto Gonzales as new National Security Adviser, vice retired Police four-star General Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr. who was also named new Public Works and Highways Secreray

Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye made the announcement of the twin cabinet appointments in his regular press briefing in Malacanang on Wednesday.

Gonzales had earlier served briefly as National Security Adviser and Director General of the National Security Council.

Born in Balanga, Bataan on April 17, 1947, and graduated from the Ateneo de Davao University, Gonzales also served as the Presidential Adviser for Special Concerns from February 2001 up to January 2004.

He is also chairman of the Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas, and of the Kaunlaran ng Magsasaka Inc.