In view of intelligence reports pointing to credible plans of anti-government groups to inflame the political situation, sow disorder and incite people against the duly constituted authorities, we have instructed the PNP as well as the local government units to strictly enforce a "no permit, no rally" policy, disperse groups that run afoul of this standard, and arrest all persons violating the laws of the land as well as ordinances on the proper conduct of mass actions and demonstrations.

The rule of calibrated preemptive response is now in force, in lieu of maximum tolerance. The authorities will not stand aside while those with ill intent are herding a witting or unwitting mass of people and inciting them into actions that are inimical to public order, and the peace of mind of the national community.

Unlawful mass actions will be dispersed. The majority of law-abiding citizens have the right to be protected by a vigilant and proactive government.

We appeal to the detractors of the government to engage in lawful and peaceful conduct befitting of a democratic society.

Malacaņang today ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the local government units (LGUs) to enforce strictly the "no permit, no rally" policy, and "disperse groups that run afoul of this standard."

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita issued the directive "in view of intelligence reports pointing to credible plans of anti-government groups to inflame the political situation, sow disorder and incite people against the duly constituted authorities."

Ermita warned that all persons violating the laws of the land as well as ordinances on the proper conduct of mass actions and demonstrations will be arrested.

"The rule of calibrated preemptive response is now in force, in lieu of maximum tolerance," Ermita said in a statement, which came amid reports that anti-government groups were preparing to hold nationwide rallies today in observance of the 33^rd anniversary of the proclamation of martial law on Sept. 21, 1972 by then President Ferdinand Marcos.

"The authorities will not stand aside while those with ill intent are herding a witting or unwitting mass of people and inciting them into actions that are inimical to public order, and the peace of mind of the national community," Ermita said.

"Unlawful mass actions will be dispersed. The majority of law-abiding citizens have the right to be protected by a vigilant and proactive government," he added.

Presidential Management Staff (PMS) chief Secretary Rigoberto Tiglao bared today the list of the initial 33 members of the Consultative Commission (ConCom), the study and advisory group that would help Congress if it finally decides to amend the 1987 Constitution.

Tiglao said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has already signed the invitation letter to the 33 members of the ConCom who were initially selected from a list of 150 nominees.

Tiglao said the 33 selected ConCom members are a mix of academicians, lawyers, businessmen, farmers, and political and religious leaders chosen for their integrity, patriotism, experience, and sectoral representation.

Named initial members in alphabetical order are Jose B. Abueva, Atty. Anthony Y. Acevedo, Ronald L. Adamat, Emmanuel Y. Angeles, Rene B. Azurin, Jose C. Bello Jr., Ma. Romela M. Bengzon, Jarius Bondoc, Franchis Chua, Donald G. Dee, Gilberto M. Duavit, Gerado S. Espina Sr., Pablo P. Garcia, Nelia T. Gonzales, Joji Ilagan-Bian, Gonzalo M. Jurado, Jose P. Leviste Jr., James Marty L. Lim, Lito Monico C. Lorenzana, Sergio Luiz-Ortiz Jr.;

Alexander Raymundo Magno, Jose Sonny G. Matula, Democrito T. Mendoza, David C. Naval, Victor F. Ortega, Vicente T. Paterno, Carmen N. Pedrosa, Mayor Oscar S. Rodriguez, Governor Pedro P. Romualdo, Bishop Efraim M. Tendero, Ray M. Teves, Atty. Antonio T. Vilar, and Ambassador Alfonso T. Yuchengco.

Tiglao said the ConCom members, who will hold their first meeting on Sept. 28, will work full time within three months in reviewing existing and new Constitutional reform proposals in consultation with the various sectors of society nationwide.

The President signed Executive Order 453 last August 19 creating the ConCom to propose the revision of the 1987 Constitution to make it more responsive, relevant, and competitive to inward and global changes.

Constitutional reform calling for a shift from the presidential-unitary system to a parliamentary-federal form of government is incorporated in the Medium Term Public Investment Program from 2005 to 2010 which the President prioritized in her State-of-the-Nation-Address (SONA) last July 25.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today swore into office three of the newest members of the Court of Appeals and administered the oath to the new set of officers of at least four private organizations in mass rites oathtaking in Malacanang.

The three new members of the Court of Appeals sworn to office are Associate Justices Ramon Garcia, Apolinario Bruselas Jr. and Ricardo Rosario.

The four groups whose officers she also administered the oath of office were the Chamber of Herbal Industries of the Philippines, Operation Diabetes Support Association, Maritime Law Association of the Philippines, and the Filipino Lawyers for Good Government.

Malacanang said today that negotiations between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) were moving faster amid optimism that a peace agreement could finally be forged by the early part or the middle of 2006.

Silvestre Afable Jr., chairman of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) negotiating panel, told a press conference in Malacanang this afternoon that both sides have agreed to craft the final agreement on a permanent settlement of the Mindanao conflict.

The pace of the GRP-MILF peace negotiations picked up after both parties reached a consensus on the issue of ancestral domain, the most contentious problem that had slowed the negotiations in the past.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo announced last week the breakthrough on the ancestral domain issue when she was in the United States for the 60^th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Afable, who held the press conference with Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, said the government is optimistic that a "just, lasting and comprehensive peace agreement" would be finalized because the "situation on the ground is very stable."

Except for minor skirmishes, there have been no major encounters between government forces and MILF rebels for the past two years, he said.

Afable pointed out that the two panels are expected to sign the final agreement on ancestral domain (AD) before yearend.

"We expect to sign a final agreement on ancestral domain sometime in December," he said.

The ongoing peace talks with the Moro rebels cover a three-part agenda: security, which has already been resolved; rehabilitation and development, on which both sides have already signed an agreement, and finally, the ancestral domain.

Afable said after the signing of the final agreement on ancestral domain, the GRP and the MILF panels will consolidate all the consensus points on security, rehabilitation and development and ancestral domain.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today cited the recent achievements by several Filipinos in sports and the performing arts which, she said, gave the image of the Philippines a new boost in the world community.

In a speech at the mass oath-taking rites in Malacaņang this afternoon, the President said champion boxers Manny Pacquiao, Rey "Boom-Boom" Bautista and Brian Villoria whose recent wins in their respective boxing matches in the United States were certainly "global triumphs of the Filipino."

She also cited the honors won by the movies "Masahista" and "Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros" which garnered the Best Film Awards at the Locarno International Film Festival in Switzerland and the Montreal International Film Festival, respectively.

Produced by Gee International Productions, Masahista was directed by Brillante Mendoza. Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Olivares, written by Michiko Yamamoto, was produced by Raymond Lee and directed by Aureus Solito.

The President said that although the country had already set itself as a power to contend with in sports, its entertainment industry, specifically movie making, could use a gentle push to improve the quality of Filipino films.

She directed the concerned government agencies to update the rules of the Metro Manila Film Festival to conform to international standards.

"We are doing quite well in sports but in entertainment, we still need a lot of help. So, I am directing the Metro Manila Development Authority and the Film Development Council to update the rules of the Metro Manila Film Festival to conform to international standards," she declared.

President Arroyo also praised Filipino crooners Jed Mandela and Rizza Navales, who won the 2005 World Championships of the Performing Arts (WCOPA) recently held in Hollywood, USA.

Madela and Navales swept the "official talent Olympics of the world" by garnering 11 gold medals, one silver medal, three Champion of the World Plaques and a trophy as grand champion.

What made the feat even more interesting was the fact that the Philippines fielded only the duo of Mandela and Navales to best 1,000 contestants from 51 countries from around the world.

The President said these achievements "mark the excellence and leadership of the Filipino in the world." She called on industry leaders and officials of government agencies concerned to work for the betterment of the entertainment industry.

"The long and short of it is: let us work for the Philippines to be the center for entertainment in Asia. We have our talents. We have our technical expertise in film and sound production. We have competitive pricing. Let us work together," she noted.

The President also expressed elation over her modest achievements in the just concluded United Nations leaders summit in New York where she went on record as the first Philippine President, first Asian head of state and the very first woman leader to preside over the UN Security Council Summit.

Aside from steering the UNSC Summit to unanimously approving two vital resolutions, she also got to address the UN General Assembly.