Government peace negotiator Secretary Silvestre Afable announced today that peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will resume on April 16, 2005 in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia.

Afable made the announcement after a four-hour meeting with MILF Chairman Al Hadj Murad in Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, yesterday. The meeting was facilitated by Dato’ Othman Bin Abd. Razak, director general of the Prime Minister’s Office of Malaysia—who was also present.

"President Arroyo is backing the peace talks with full political will and everybody on board wants to respond with strong momentum," he said

"Chairman Murad confirmed that the MILF technical team has been organized and is ready to be fielded for the talks," Afable said, adding that the GRP panel was likewise ready for full-blown technical discussions on key ancestral domain issues that are up in the agenda.

He said both sides acknowledged the firm success of the ground-level ceasefire as well as joint efforts to neutralize lawless groups.

"We have a consensus with the Malaysian government that abundant goodwill has been invested in the ceasefire, which has held firm for a year and a half, to move on to the meat of the negotiations," he added.

"The MILF Chairman is committed to a sincere partnership with the government to work for a final solution to the conflict and I have utmost confidence that the MILF Central Committee and the MILF peace panel will bring this goal to its logical conclusion," he said.

Afable said the discussions with Murad covered the full range of items in the peace process, including a larger role for the Bangsamoro Development Agency and the need for broader consultations with the people to bring them within the mainstream of the negotiation agenda.

"Dato’ Othman conveyed to us the unremitting commitment of the Malaysian Government to host the peace talks, lead the International Monitoring Team (IMT) and accept MILF nominees for capacity-building programs in Malaysia," Afable said.

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said here she wants lasting peace and development in Mindanao to enable the people to fight poverty.

"We want complete and lasting peace to enable our people to gain jobs and fight grinding poverty. We want peace that will allow our people more space to develop their human potentials and values. We want peace that upholds the law and respects the rights and traditions of our diverse ethnic communities," the President said in a statement issued here last night.

The President, who is on the last leg of her visit to Region 9 (Western Mindanao) to inspect development projects in the area, said reconstruction of damaged structures in Sulu caused by the recent clashes between military forces, on the one hand, and the Abu Sayyaf terrorists and the Misuari Breakaway Group (MBG) of the Moro National Liberation Front, on the other hand, has been started by various concerned agencies.

"We will pursue, as vigorously as ever, the rehabilitation of Muslim Mindanao," the President vowed.

The National Initiative on Mindanao or "Mindanao Natin" program has been designated as the government’s vehicle for development of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and other conflict-affected zones in Southern Philippines.

President Arroyo stressed that in pursuing and achieving peace and development in Mindanao, "we unconditionally reject terrorism. This scourge must be universally condemned and addressed decisively."

"That’s why in Mindanao today, especially in Sulu, we are dealing terror with an iron hand as we will sever its links with rebels and insurgents with whom we are waging peace across the negotiating table," she said.

She added that all reasonable efforts are being exerted to safeguard the lives of civilians, even as she expressed full support, moral and material, to the police and the military forces engaged in pursuit operations against the insurgents.

The Chief Executive has instructed Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita to explore and recommend other options and measures to further strengthen the GRP-MNLF peace accord of 1996 which, she said, will have been completely implemented by the 10^th anniversary of its signing in September 2006.

"We would like to win peace in Mindanao based on the meaningful autonomy that has been our commitment," the President said.

She reiterated the principles that guide the search for peace, namely: that the ultimate objective should be both peace and development; that the framework for peace and development must be based on constitutionality, national sovereignty, and territorial integrity; that Philippine society is a multi-ethnic one and development should focus on social justice for all and institutionalized accommodation of ethnic traditions and the unconditional rejection of terrorism.

The fourth principle, she pointed out, is very relevant to the challenges of the times.

The inclusion of the Philippines in the U.S. dirty money laundry list runs counter to the recent action of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) which has taken us off the latter’s list.

Fully-grown marijuana plants and seedlings estimated to have a market value of P2.1 million pesos have been uprooted in South Cotabato, according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

In a report to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, PDEA Director General Anselmo S. Avenido Jr. said that some 6,000 pieces of marijuana plants and 2,000 pieces of marijuana seedlings were uprooted in Barangay Danlag, a public domain in Tampakan, South Cotabato.

The marijuana eradication operation was conducted last March 13 by the joint elements of PDEA Regional Office XII, Tampakan Municipal Police Station and the Philippine Army.

Two suspected cultivators, identified as Buligne Kawayan and Noel Diamilang, were able to escape during the operation, according to the report.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo may call Congress to a special session on the first three days of the Holy Week to give the legislators time to pass the expanded value added tax (VAT) bill.

In a radio interview this morning, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the President would decide whether to call Congress to a special session depending on the outcome of today’s session at the Senate.

Under the legislative calendar, Congress is set to go on a Lenten break from March 19 (Saturday) to April 10.

Ermita clarified however, that the President would first consult with Congress leaders and members before calling for a special session to act on important economic measures.

The VAT bill is among the eight measures the President asked Congress to pass so the national government could raise additional revenues of P80 billion, as part of her fiscal consolidation program.

The program seeks to balance the budget in six years and reduce the consolidated public sector deficit (CPSD) to just 1.0 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP).

LAMITAN, Basilan – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo called today for vigilance in the face of threats by remnants of the Abu Sayyaf to attack Catholic churches during the Holy Week in retaliation for the bloody Bicutan hostage-taking incident.

The President sounded her call for vigilance during the media interaction at the Claret School of Lamitan. This town was raided by Abu Sayyaf terrorists on June 1, 1992 in the infamous Lamitan siege.

"There’s a call for all the citizens to be vigilant because that is part of the security (plans) that is taking place, a community-based vigilance," she said.

The President commended the various security agencies for containing large-scale terrorist attacks in the country and in keeping the populace safe from the atrocities of the Abu Sayyaf bandits.

She commended the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) for doing an excellent job of ensuring the security of the country and the safety of the citizens.

She added that she does not have to issue any directive to the two security agencies to meet the terrorists’ threat to sow mayhem during the Lenten holidays, saying the AFP and PNP know what has to be done.

"The security agencies have been doing a very, very good job in securing our security and I do not want to micro-manage. They are doing a very good job. There’s no need for me to issue a directive to them. They know what to do," the President said.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, Presidential Assistant for Mindanao Affairs Jesus Dureza, Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Parouk Hussin, Basilan Governor Wahab Akbar, Representative Gerry Salapuddin and AFP Southcom Chief Lt. Gen. Alberto Braganza, who were with the President, also fielded questions raised by local newsmen during the media interaction.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered massive search and rescue operations for the persons who were reported missing in the wake of tropical storm "Auring" which battered parts of the Visayas and Mindanao Thursday.

In a press briefing today, Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye said the President issued the order, as she conveyed her condolences to the families of the victims.

Bunye said the President also ordered the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) to assist the victims and their families, as well as the passengers who were stranded as a result of the weather disturbance.

Reports indicated that at least seven people, including two young girls, died in the wake of the storm, the first weather disturbance to hit the country this year.

At least 73 sea vessels were grounded and 24 domestic flights were suspended as "Auring" hit parts of the Visayas and Mindanao, leaving many passengers stranded.

LAMITAN, Basilan – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today awarded Certificates of Occupancy to 50 Badjao families now occupying the houses on stilts in the coastal barangay of Kulaybato in Lamitan.

The Badjaos are native Filipino sea gypsies in Southern Philippines.

The houses on stilts were built under the P5.5-million Project Hope for Badjao Families of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), a component of the "Shelter for All" program of the Arroyo administration.

During the awards rites, the President was assisted by ARMM Gov. Parouk Hussin, Lamitan Mayor Roderick Furigay, Presidential Assistant for Mindanao Affairs Jesus Dureza, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap.

The President also awarded 11 bancas and four sari-sari store packages as part of the self-employment assistance program of the government administered by the DSWD.

Aside from those in Barangay Kulaybato, some 50 other stilt houses are being constructed in Barangay Bato, also in Lamitan, and 70 houses in Barangay Arena Blanco in Zamboanga City.

"Specifically, the project aims to establish development opportunities for 170 Badjao families here in Basilan and in Zamboanga and discourage them from migrating to Metro Manila and other places where they will face hardship due to failure to get jobs and decent lives," the President said.

According to the DSWD, the housing units in Lamitan were built with the assistance of the 545th Engineering Construction Battalion (ECB) and the 52nd Engineering Brigade (EBBE) of the Philippine Army.

Project construction was started on September 19, 2004 and was completed last February 5, 2005.

One of the recipients, Jamira Olmo, 70, wife of Iyong Olmo, the "Panglima" or chieftain of the Badjao tribe, was delighted to be chosen as one of the family beneficiaries of the newly-built stilt houses.

The couple and children Norman, Nassida, Nassira and Rasmir are thankful for the blessings the Arroyo government has granted them. They said they hope for a normal family life in their new home.

Another beneficiary, a former illegal settler along Roxas Boulevard in front of the Baclaran Church in Metro Manila was also awarded a certificate of occupancy under the Balik Probinsya program of the DSWD.

Abdurasah Pasang, 40, president of the Barangay Kulaybato Livelihood Association here, received not only a new house but also a banca which he hopes to use productively to provide for his family

The former pedicab driver in Baclaran decided to grab the opportunity to return to his roots and live a normal life with his wife Dereng and children Abdurajak, Junior, Maila, Boboy and Aminah.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye today cited inconsistencies in the statement of United States Department of State and US ambassador to Manila Francis Ricciardone on the progress of the Philippine government’s fight against money laundering and terrorism.

In a press briefing, Bunye noted that the US State Department report also contradicted the move taken by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which delisted the Philippines last month from the roster of non-cooperative countries and territories (NCCT).

"Clearly, the right hand does not know what the left hand is doing," Bunye noted..

Just recently, Ricciardone said the US has decided to reduce its aid to the Philippines, convinced that it has posted significant gains in the fight against terrorism.

The State Department report cited a flourishing illegal drug trade and rampant insurgency as the basis for placing the Philippines in the list of "primary concern countries" due to laundering of dirty money.

It also claimed that the decision to name the Philippines "as a major money laundering country is based on whether the country or jurisdiction’s financial institutions engage in transactions involving significant amounts or proceeds from serious crimes."

"Following its placement on the NCCT list (in June 2000), the US government issued an advisory to all US financial institutions instructing them to give ‘enhanced scrutiny’ to transactions involving the Philippines," the report said.

The US, however, failed to take into account the February 2005 decision of the FATF removing the Philippines from the list, and citing the progress made by the government in curbing money laundering activities.

In its decision, FATF noted that the Philippines "has developed financial intelligence units (FIUs)- specialized units to investigate and prosecute money laundering."

The Anti-Money Laundering Council headed by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Rafael Buenaventura is the primary agency tasked to look into suspicious accounts and to take legal action against suspected money launderers.

The latest amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering Act reduced the threshold of transactions which banks must report to AMLC to P500,000.

"We all know that the United States is a leading member of the FATF and that the FATF has delisted us sometime ago precisely because they saw the efforts we’ve been exerting in addressing the anti-money laundering problem," Bunye said.

He expressed hope that the State Department report would not affect the FATF decision.

"Let us hope that the FATF ruling will be the one to prevail and that is the reason why we are confident that our Anti-Money Laundering Council will respond to this issue," he said.