President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administered the oath of office to the newly promoted officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in simple rites this morning (February 24) at the Rizal Hall in Malacaņang.

General Efren Abu, AFP Chief of Staff and now a 4-star general, led the newly promoted officers.

The others include Lt. Gen. Generoso Senga as Philippine Army Commanding General, Lt. Gen. Edilberto Adan as Deputy AFP Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Teodosio as AFP Central Command (CentCom) chief, Lt. Gen. Cristolito Balaoing as Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Superintendent, Lt. Gen. Pedro Cabuay as AFP Southern Luzon Command (SolCom) chief, and Lt. Gen. Alan Cabalquinto as AFP National Capital Region (NCR) Commander.

During the oath-taking and induction rites, the President also conferred awards to the 10 winners in the search for The Outstanding Philippine Soldiers (TOPS) 2004.

The TOPS winners were awarded trophies and P100,000 cash each in recognition of their gallantry, professionalism and dedication in the military service.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz assisted the President during the awards ceremonies.

The award, jointly implemented by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Metrobank Foundation, and the Rotary Club of Makati Metro, honors and affirms the men and women of the AFP who carry out their duty with integrity, competence and professionalism amidst the controversy that besiege the armed forces lately.

The winners from the Philippine Army (PA) are Captain Harold Cabunoc of the First Scout Ranger Regiment, Special Operations Command based in Camp Tecson, Bulacan; Chief Master Sergeant Renato delos Santos of the PA Headquarters Support Group in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City; and Technical Sergeant Ludie Donque of the 8^th Infantry battalion, 4^th Infantry Division based in Claveria, Misamis Oriental.

The awardees from the Philippine Navy (PN) are Commander Bayani Gaerlan of the Barko ng Republika ng Pilipinas Rafael Pargas, Assault Craft Force; Master Sergeant Leonardo Cleofe of the Marine Corps Training Center in Ternate, Cavite; and Petty Officer 2 Melvin Baguio of the PN Naval Station in Zamboanga City.

From the Philippine Air Force (PAF) the awardees are Col. Romeo Poquiz of the Resource Management Office in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City; SSgt. Samson Viloria of the 17^th Attack Squadron, 15^th Strike Wing based in Sangley Air Base, Cavite City; and TSgt. Victoriano Novida of the 1301^st PAF Dental Dispensary in Villamor Air Base, Pasay City.

The winner in the Technical Services category is Lt. Col. Joseph Acosta, M.D., of the Air Force City Hospital in Clark Airbase, Pampanga.

The spirited debate on our tax measures shows a Congress firmly in focus to meet our fiscal targets.

But we need a consensus early and strong enough to hurdle the issue of international and domestic confidence.

We must show determination and decisiveness to raise confidence and push the economy forward.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo called this morning for stronger laws to enable authorities to neutralize terrorists before they can strike and inflict harm on their targets.

"The perimeters of vigilance must be strengthened by stronger laws to identify, pinpoint, and expose terrorists and to enable authorities to neutralize terrorist conspiracies before they can strike," she said during the The Outstanding Philippine Soldiers (TOPS) awards ceremony at the Rizal Hall in Malacanang.

The President stressed that the government’s anti-terrorism campaign has been highly successful, "but it is time to bring the issue to a higher plane of pre-emptive security."

The alert against terrorism continues and more suspected terrorists are falling into the government dragnet, she added.

The President cited the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) for the information that led to the arrest last Tuesday in Mandaluyong City of Abu Khalil Trinidad and Gamal Baharan, two of the suspects in the Valentine’s Day bomb attacks in the cities of General Santos, Davao and Makati.

"Public safety is as much a component of economic progress as political stability. Our efforts to ensure national security goes hand-in-hand with the efforts designed to grow the economy and mop up the recruiting grounds of terrorists and lawless elements," she said.

Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz Jr. said charges of multiple murder, multiple frustrated murder, and illegal possession of explosives have been filed against the suspects. Murder is a non-bailable offense.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Edgardo Aglipay said they would present to the media today three suspected members of the Jemaah Islamiyah -- two Indonesians and one Malaysian. The suspects were arrested on Dec. 14, 2004 in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi after they stepped out of a commercial ship from Sandakan, Malaysia.

Aglipay said the announcement of the arrests was held until today to enable authorities to gather more information on the activities of the suspects and undertake follow up operations against their cohorts.

"We would like to inform you that because of the intelligence fusion that the President has ordered us, not only between the PNP and the Armed Forces but also with our counterparts from foreign countries especially our ASEAN partners, we are gaining ground in neutralizing them (suspected terrorists) before they can do harm to our country," Aglipay said.

The President said the arrest of the three suspected JI members only shows that the 2001 trilateral agreement the Philippines entered with Indonesia and Malaysia is working.

Erstwhile toothless Metro Manila aides and street sweepers can now smile sweetly as they do their daily routine chores after they got their new set of dentures from First Gentleman Jose Miguel T. Arroyo’s free denture project, "Bagong Ngiti sa Dating Ngebu (Bungi)."

In appreciation of their new dentures, which are expected to help them regain their waning self-confidence, the beneficiaries also committed not only to do their jobs better but do so with a smile.

The commitment was conveyed by the MMDA aides and park attendants from the National Parks Development Committee (NPDC), the newest batch of beneficiaries of Mr. Arroyo’s free dentures project, at the denture fitting ceremonies held at the MMDA office in Guadalupe, Makati City Thursday.

The First Gentleman, together with MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando, General Manager Robert Nacianceno and NPDC Executive Director Carlito Fajardo led the rites.

The batch includes 235 Metro aides assigned to various areas within the metropolis and 151 Rizal Park attendants (sweepers) and vendors.

The beneficiaries graphically conveyed their gratitude in a message boldly printed on a streamer hanged inside the MMDA office.

The message states: "Sa paglilinis ay todong ngiti, pagkat kami’y hindi na bungi. Salamat sa pustisong bigay mo, First Gentleman Mike Arroyo." (We’re now all smiles as we clean up, because we are no longer toothless. Thanks for the dentures you gave us, First Gentleman Mike Arroyo.)

Aside from their streamer, the beneficiaries, including 64-year-old Florencia Tan from Valenzuela City, also personally thanked Mr. Arroyo.

Tan said she considers her new denture as a great advance retirement gift. She is due to retire when she turns 65 in November after 28 years of being a Metro aide.

According to Tan, she had been toothless for the past 15 years but was not able to have dentures because her earnings mainly went to the basic needs of her family.

"Laki ng pasasalamat ko kay First Gentleman sa pagbibigay ng pustiso sa akin. Lalo akong sisipagin sa trabaho ko (I sincerely thank the First Gentleman for giving me dentures. This will inspire me to work even harder), she said.

Tan was chosen as one of the Outstanding Metro Aides in 1978, 1984 and 1998.

Equally grateful to Mr. Arroyo was Rosie Reyes, 49, from Quezon City, who said having a new denture would greatly affect her looks.

"Mas gaganda kami lalo, makagagamit na ako ng lipstick at maglalagay ng make-up at tiyak lalaki ang kita ko sa pagtitinda" (We will be prettier now. I can now use lipstick and wear make-up. I’m sure my sales will go up), Reyes said. She sells peanuts and "balut" when off- duty.

Loreta Manaloto, 58, from Montalban, a Metro aide for 28 years, said her family was very happy when they learned she was among the beneficiaries of the First Gentleman’s project.

"Tatlong taon na akong bungi, buti na lang mahal pa rin ako ng asawa ko kahit bungi, pero ngayong may pustiso na ako, tiyak lalo niya akong mamahalin" (I have been toothless for three years now. It was good my husband still loves me. With my dentures, he will love me even more), Manaloto said.

Erlinda Laodinio, 55, and Estel Villona, 62, both park attendants for over 20 years, represented their group in conveying their thanks to the First Gentleman.

MMDA Chairman Fernando, for his part, thanked the First Gentleman not only in behalf of the beneficiaries but of the whole MMDA.

Fernando said Mr. Arroyo’s "Bagong Ngiti sa Dating Ngebu" serves as an inspiration to all the personnel of the MMDA.

Inspired by the profuse thanks he received from about 500 MMDA beneficiaries of his project, the First Gentleman decided to further expand his project’s coverage to include other MMDA personnel and their dependents.

He challenged them to produce 1,000 more toothless personnel and dependents and he will have them covered by the project. The MMDA personnel applauded the challenge loudly.

Originally conceived to help poor market vendors in Metro Manila, the First Gentleman’s project has already provided free dentures to National Capital Region and Region 3 Police uniformed and non-uniformed personnel and their dependents, PSG personnel and their dependents; PGH health workers and other personnel, poor residents of Santiago City, Isabela and Pampanga and other special clients.

To date, the Office of the First Gentleman has already spent about P2.5 million from Mr. Arroyo’s private funds for the project.

The project’s next beneficiaries will include military personnel, barbers, taxi drivers, beauticians and laborers of the "Kalsada Natin, Alagaan Natin" project of the Department of Public Works and Highways.

Malacaņang views the ongoing debates between members of the Senate and the House of Representatives on which version of the value added tax (VAT) bill will be adopted as an exercise that shows the resolve of Congress to address the country’s fiscal targets.

"The spirited debate on our tax measures shows a Congress firmly in focus to meet our fiscal targets," Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said.

Senators and congressmen are reportedly in a stalemate, with neither side giving up its counterpart’s version of the VAT bill.

House Speaker Jose de Venecia said that congressmen have already "approved" the administration’s measure proposing to increase the value-added tax rate from the present 10 percent to 12 percent.

Senate Committee on Ways and Means Chair Ralph Recto, on the other hand, has proposed several measures in place of the House version of the VAT bill.

Recto’s proposal includes the lifting of VAT exemptions of certain sectors, like the independent power producers and oil firms, increasing corporate taxes to 35 percent, and reducing personal income taxes by 20 percent.

Bunye, who is also the Presidential Spokesperson, appealed to the lawmakers to hasten their deliberations so the bill could boost prospective investor’s confidence.

"We need a consensus early and strong enough to hurdle the issue of international and domestic confidence," he said, adding: "We must show determination and decisiveness to raise confidence and push the economy forward."

The Press Secretary expressed confidence that the lawmakers would do what is best for the country.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said today the government has complied substantially with the 1996 peace agreement with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), ranging from the creation of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) to the establishment of shariah courts and the appointment of Muslims in high-level government positions.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Nur Hassan Wirajuda, chairman of the Committee of Eight created by the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) to monitor compliance of the peace agreement "has been very glowing in his evaluation of our compliance with the agreement," the President told a press conference in Malacanang this morning.

"A lot of government development assistance is going to ARMM that other non-Muslim provinces are already getting jealous of the assistance going to Mindanao," she added.

The Chief Executive added that the Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP) provides for the accelerated development of Mindanao in keeping with the peace agreement. The peace accord also calls for the integration of former MNLF regulars into the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Some 7,500 former MNLF fighters are now members of the AFP.

The President also said the peace agreement is subject to constant review, principally on the issue of compliance by both the MNLF and the government.

She explained that the resumption of the peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has not suffered delays, saying preliminary discussions on the matter are taking place in the run-up to the formal talks.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, former head of the government peace panel in the talks with the MILF, said Malacanang was awaiting the signal from Malaysia on the resumption of the negotiations. Kuala Lumpur is hosting the peace negotiations.

The government is participating in the stock rights offering of San Miguel Corporation (SMC), after all, to the extent that the government financing institutions can finance.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo told a press conference this morning in Malacaņang: "We want to keep hold of our shares so that we can sell them for a good price."

The government owns over 33 percent stake in San Miguel, the country’s biggest food and beverage company, making it the single largest stakeholder in the firm.

The President had earlier disclosed her plan to sell the government shares at SMC to further boost agriculture-related enterprises in the country.

She had instructed Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima to combine all of the state’s holdings in SMC and offer it as one block to investors to raise funds for the development of the country’s coconut industry.

The President, who was joined by Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Edgardo Aglipay, Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz Jr., Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Efren Abu and Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, expressed her willingness to take advantage of the SMC public offering

Japan’s No.2 brewer Kirin Brewery holds a 20 percent stake in SMC while mall tycoon Henry Sy of SM Prime Holdings owns about 6 percent.

Of 15 SMC board seats, the government controls five.

Stockholders are allowed to buy more shares at a ratio of one to every 10 held.

The President said she had ordered Purisima to find out whether the Social Security System (SSS) and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) have reached their investment ceiling.

In a memorandum issued on February 21, those granted reprieve were rape convicts Celso Morfi (minor, two counts), Roberto Palero (minor daughter), Filomeno Serrano (minor daughter), Hilgem Nerio (70-year-old victim), Rogelio Ombreso (minor niece), Jonel Manio (6-year-old girl), Danilo Remudo (minor sister), Alejandro delos Santos (minor granddaughter), Lucilo Untalan (3 counts), Fidel Alborida (minor daughter), Salvador Miranda (minor daughter), Ramil Rayos (rape with homicide), Castro Geraban (minor daughter); and Baltazar Bongalon, who was convicted in violation of Section 15, Article 3 of Republic Act 6425, the Dangerous Drugs Act.

The 14 convicts were earlier scheduled for execution in March.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo leads the commemoration of the 19^th anniversary of the EDSA revolution tomorrow (February 25) at the EDSA Shrine in Mandaluyong City to be highlighted by the signing of the United Nations Declaration Against Corruption.

The UN declaration will subsequently be submitted to the Senate for ratification.

Friday’s EDSA activities will start with a flag raising ceremony at 7:45 a.m. to be followed by the release of giant balloons on which are printed the celebration’s theme, "People Power Against Corruption."

After an inter-faith prayer led by former President Fidel Ramos, the President will unveil the statue of former Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino together with Mr. Ramos and the former senator’s widow, former President Corazon Aquino.

Senator Aquino’s murder on August 21, 1983 led to the 1986 EDSA revolution that catapulted his widow to the presidency. Former President Aquino will deliver an inspiration message during the anniversary program.

Participating in the EDSA rites, aside from President Arroyo and the two former Chief Executives, are the youth, religious, private business, non-government organizations (NGOs), and top government officials led by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita.

The President would also witness the signing of 10 People Power Partnerships Against Corruption and would be presented the Good Citizen Teaching Modules (books) by the EDSA People Power Commission (EPPC) chaired by Secretary Ermita.

United Nations Resident Coordinator Deborah Landey will witness the signing of the UN Convention Against Corruption, together with Senate president Franklin Drilon, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo and Presidential Chief Legal Counsel Merceditas Gutierrez.

The signing of the UN document is viewed as a move to complement President Arroyo’s resolve to eliminate graft and corruption in all levels of government as part of her 10-point legacy agenda.

The President has strengthened the powers of the Office of the Ombudsman and pushed for the creation of a separate anti-corruption office patterned after Hong Kong’s Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).

On 31 October 2003, the UN General Assembly adopted through a resolution the UN Convention Against Corruption.

The Convention urges countries to enact measures that will qualify a wide range of corrupt practices as major crimes, if they are not yet declared as such under existing domestic laws.

Many countries have agreed to cooperate with one another in every aspect of the fight against corruption, including their prevention, investigation, prosecution, mutual legal assistance, and extradition of offenders.