The Executive-Legislative partnership behind the revenue program will cut the deficit, invite more investments and create more jobs for the average Filipino.

We acknowledge the earnest efforts of our legislators to scrutinize and rationalize these measures to serve the best interest of our people.

We will ensure that the people’s budget is spent for clean water, health care and education.

All parties are duty bound to follow the orders of the high court.

Far from being a disruptive episode, the unification of the political opposition would be a positive development, Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said in a radio interview this morning.

In a democratic country like the Philippines, there’s nothing to fear from a united political opposition so long as it eschews violence as a means to attain its objectives, Bunye said.

He said the country needs a vibrant opposition so people could compare the performance, programs and policies of the two sides and judge for themselves which one best embodies their ideals and interests.

Bunye was asked about his reaction to the statement attributed to the Ibon Foundation that the unification of the opposition was likely to spark destabilization moves against the administration.

"We are a democracy and we need a vibrant opposition to give our people the chance to compare notes and evaluate the performance, programs and policies of the administration and the opposition," Bunye said.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s policy of justice with compassion does not violate the rule of law, Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said this morning.

Bunye was responding to the statement of former Senate President Jovito Salonga that the President violated the law when she allowed former President Joseph Estrada to leave the country to undergo knee repair surgery in Hong Kong.

"We respect the views of former Senate President Jovito Salonga, but we have to disagree that President’s policy of justice with compassion violates the law," Bunye said in a radio interview.

He stressed that the President respects the independence of the Sandiganbayan and has never meddled in the affairs of the court.

Bunye added that although the President had sounded an appeal for humane treatment of Estrada, she has left the prosecution of the plunder case against the former president entirely to the Sandiganbayan.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today swore in Francisco Mamba as Presidential Assistant for Region 2 of the Office of External Affairs (OEA).

The simple oath-taking ceremony took place at the Music Room in Malacaņang and was witnessed by officials of Region 2 and OEA Secretary Edgardo Pamintuan.

Among those present were Cagayan 3^rd District Representative Manuel Mamba, 2^nd District Rep. Florencio Vargas, Calamaniugan, Cagayan Mayor Zenaida Maguigad, Tuguegarao City Councilor Raymund Guzman, Regional Coordinator Monina Plan, and Board Members Victor Perez, Precy Vargas, and Leonides Fausto.

Ceasefire violations between government forces and the secessionist group Moro Islamic Liberation Front are closely being monitored and probed by the International Monitoring Teams (IMTs) and the Joint Ceasefire Commitees (JCC).

This was bared today in a radio interview by Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye in the wake of reports of sporadic encounters in Mindanao between the two groups.

"They (monitoring teams) have responded immediately and are conducting investigations on these incidents. They have helped a lot in averting widespread skirmishes," Bunye said, referring to the IMT and JCC.

He pointed out that the IMTs are led by representatives from Malaysia and other Islamic countries which want the two sides to forge a peace pact.

Bunye said that the mainstream MILF has always indicated its desire for peace.

"Mayroon nga lang mga stragglers na siyang manaka-naka ay umaatake (There are those stragglers however who sporadically launch attacks)," he added.

Bunye said, however, that these stragglers will be sanctioned by the leadership of the MILF.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today received a $100,000 check and more than 100 tons worth of relief goods from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the victims of the four typhoons that pummeled the eastern part of the country in late November and early December last year.

The President received the donation from Saudi Ambassador Mohammed Ameen Wali in simple ceremonies this afternoon at the Music Room in Malacaņang.

"Please convey our thanks to His Highness King Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz and the Royal Family for your generosity. We’re very grateful," the President told the Saudi envoy.

The Saudi Ambassador was accompanied to Malacaņang by Undersecretary Bernie Cruz of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) and Director Amoran Andoga of the Office of External Affairs (OEA).

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today asked the Japanese government to postpone temporarily the implementation of its new immigration rules particularly the policy that reduces the number of Filipino entertainers working in Japan.

The President personally conveyed her appeal to Dr. Taro Nakayama, chairman of the Japan-Philippines Parliamentarians Friendship League when the official made a courtesy call at the Palace Music Room this afternoon.

"I ask you and your government to postpone the implementation of your new immigration rules," she said.

The President told Nakayama that if the implementation of their new policy will push through, the Philippines, instead, would concentrate on sending more nurses, caregivers and information technology workers to Japan.

"When that happens we will concentrate on sending nurses, caregivers, IT workers to your country so that we can avoid what happened to our entertainers," she said.

In return, Nakayama assured the President that her appeal would be relayed personally to Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.

He also told the President that he would report directly to Philippine Ambassador to Japan Domingo Siazon on the developments of her request to postpone the implementation of their new immigration rules.