President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo contributed today P10 million to the Congressional Spouses Foundation, Inc. (CSFI) to help fund its various charitable institutions and programs, particularly The Haven National Center for Women.

The CSFI, which has helped more than 10,000 women and children by providing them a comprehensive range of services for their care, protection, recovery, rehabilitation and development for eventual family reunification and community reintegration, is headed by civic leader Gina de Venecia, wife of House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr.

The President announced her contribution during the birthday celebration of Mrs. de Venecia held at The Haven’s address in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

"Gina, it is my honor to give a contribution, on the occasion of your birthday, of P10 million to the Congressional Spouses Foundation," the President said.

Mrs. De Venecia, together with congressional spouses, established The Haven 10 years ago with the mission to rehabilitate the women victims of abuse in the country.

Earlier, the President presided over the turnover to the CSFI of two ambulances donated by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

She was assisted by the Speaker and Mrs. de Venecia, Ms. Beth Panambo, head social worker for the The Haven, and Social Welfare and Development Secretary Esperanza Cabral.

The President also led the groundbreaking and capsule-laying ceremonies marking the start of construction of the center’s multi-purpose gymnasium.

The gymnasium is intended to bring about a "holistic" approach to the rehabilitation of the center’s clients by providing a venue for physical and extra-curricular activities.

The Palace appreciates the observation of the Catholic Bishops that another unconstitutional means of toppling the President would produce "new injustices" and might even "result in a civil war."

This ties in with the military leadership’s incessant call for politicians to leave our men and women in uniform out of the murky waters of politics so that they could focus on their primary duty of protecting our people.

The President is after the economic and social transformation of the poorest communities of the country through the delivery of basic services and effective implementation of fiscal and political reforms.

It is clear from the first hand account of the victims and the narration of facts from the outcome of the official probe this tragic incident could have been prevented if proper crowd control measures and coordination with proper authorities were made by the event organizers. Claims of persecution and harassment by the latter are bunk.

President Arroyo is out for the truth and to defend the victims who cannot defend themselves.

Meanwhile, the Government is coming up with measures to prevent the repeat of similar events; and the public can be sure that the accountability of everyone—the organizers, the local government, and the local PNP—shall be looked into.

We urge the Senate to fast track its hearings on the supplemental budget geared towards giving our government employees much needed economic relief.

The report that Washington is closely watching economic developments here is proof of our strong strategic alliance with the US on the economic, political and security levels.

The country’s economy has clearly proven its resilience and we appreciate the confidence of the business sector and the fairness of some credit rating agencies. With the help of allies in Asia and the west, we can sustain the momentum of our gains.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo granted conditional pardon today to 37 elderly convicts at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) as part of the administration’s program to decongest and eventually privatize the penal institution.

In a simple program this afternoon at the Conference Room of the NBP, the President approved the release of the inmates, aged 70-80.

"Happy Valentines to all of you! We are doing this to decongest the prison and for humanitarian reason," she said after personally congratulating the old inmates for regaining their freedom.

Among those given presidential pardon were Federico Consolacion and Teopano Lope, the oldest members of the batch at 80. Also released were Emeterio Ferreroa, Sancho Manliguez, Anatalio Molina, Juan Penarobia, Benjamin Razonable, Felicisimo Solayao, all 71 years old.

Also granted presidential pardon were Francisco Aquino, Domingo Bautista, Adolfo Borja, Arsenio Borja, Silvestre de Baguio, Sofronio Esmania, Crispin Florendo, Laurentino Fortuno, Francisco Gunabe, Gaudencio Ignacio, Feliciano Lacocao, Geronimo Laguatan, Benjamin Lim, Julian Magtagad Sr., Romulo Maldos;

Mariano Martinez, Elmero Mesa Sr., Onofre Nunez, Apolinario Ormido, Paulino Orot, Martiniano Pilarda, Pedro Reyes, Rafael Salalima, Crisologo Seleteria, Hanibal Silverio, Cornelio Tabaldo, Pablo Ventura, Pedro Villamor and Sixto Vinas Sr.

The inmates all expressed their gratitude to the President for the chance to be reunited with their families in the twilight years of their lives.

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director Vicente Vinarao and Muntinlupa City Representative Rozzano Rufino Biazon witnessed the ceremony.

The President also disclosed that the sentence of the 280 longest serving death row inmates will be commuted to life imprisonment. There are 1,280 convicts confined at the NBP death row.

She also directed the Board of Pardons and Parole to facilitate the processing of the documents on the lowering of the sentence of the death convicts.

In an interview with Gonzalez, the DOJ chief said Vinarao conducted a briefing on the planned transfer of the Bureau of Correction to Tanay, Rizal as part of the privatization program of the 435-hectare NBP.

Earlier on Feb. 10, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita sent a memorandum to the DOJ and BuCor informing them that the President would grant executive clemency to eight prisoners.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will lead the nation in the celebration of the 20^th anniversary of EDSA People Power 1 and in rekindling the spirit of the bloodless revolution that had made the Filipinos’ peaceful breakaway from dictatorship the envy of the world.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita told a press conference in Malacanang this afternoon that revelry alone does not make a successful and meaningful celebration of the spirit of EDSA 1 as he reiterated that the Arroyo administration is not downgrading the significance of the event.

"There is a whole line of activities for the EDSA 1 20^th Anniversary" celebration, Ermita said. He pointed out that the celebration starts on Feb.22 and ends on Feb.25, with no less than the President leading most of the activities.

Feb.22 will be the "Day for Soldiers and Police," he said. On that day, the valiant officers and soldiers of the military and police will be honored, with former President Fidel V. Ramos leading the wreath-laying ceremony at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani, Ermita added.

On the same day, the President will cut the ribbon marking the formal opening of the EDSA ‘86 Freedom Trail at the gate of Camp Crame. The freedom trail will feature large tarpauline pictures taken during EDSA 1 at the areas where the memorable events happened.

In the afternoon, the President will fly to Cebu City to visit the jobs fair being held in that southern metropolis as part of her 10-point agenda to create 10 million jobs by 2010.

Feb. 23 will be devoted to the youth with the National Youth Commission (NYC) in charge of various activities for the country’s youth. Among the NYC activities on Feb. 23 is the EDSA 1 Forum.

At 5:30 a.m. on the same day, the President will inaugurate the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) housing project for Filipino soldiers

The following day, she will attend the Eucharistic Celebration at the Lady of Our Peace Parish at the EDSA Shrine.

On Feb.25, there will be a flag raising ceremony at the People Power Monument at 7 a.m. This activity will feature an ecumenical prayer and the giving of a posthumous award to Cardinal Jaime Sin and the new heroes of EDSA.

The new EDSA 1 heroes include the SEAGames gold medallists, top Filipino boxers, an overseas Filipino worker, Gawad Kalinga, Pondo ng Pinoy and Models of Good Citizenship.

A mass will also be held at the EDSA Shrine at 10 a.m. and a Gawad Kalinga show to be followed by street dancing and fireworks display.

Also on Feb. 25, the President will dedicate a 1,600-hectare property in Camp Tecson, San Miguel, Bulacan to the housing program for soldiers called a "Tribute to the Filipino Soldier."

Malacanang said it would also request the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) to ask all the churches in the country to ring their bells at 7 a.m. on Feb.25 as part of the commemoration of the special day.

"So, you see, it’s not true that we have no activity… no more ‘salubungan" in the afternoon of Feb. 25…no more all-night revelry with entertainers but we have lined up meaningful activities," Ermita said.

Malacanang expressed appreciation today for the observation of the Catholic bishops that another unconstitutional means of toppling the President would produce "new injustices" and might even "result in civil war."

Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said in a press statement that the church’s stand is in conformity with the military’s call for politicians to leave the soldiers alone.

"This (bishops’ observation) ties in with the military leadership’s incessant call for politicians to leave our men and women in uniform out of the murky waters of politics so that they could focus on their primary duty of protecting our people," he said.

Bunye was commenting on the statement of Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) President Angel Lagdameo Tuesday in which he expressed his fellow bishops’ apprehension that another EDSA-type people power could be detrimental to the people.

Lagdameo said most Catholic bishops felt that the opposition failed to present a viable alternative to replace President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

While the opposition seems to be in disarray, Bunye said President Arroyo is after the economic and social transformation of the poorest communities of the country through the delivery of basic services and effective implementation of fiscal and political reforms.

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) will make sure funds will be available for the government’s contingency requirements for the onset of the La Nina weather phenomenon this summer.

Newly-appointed Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr. made this assurance today following the directive of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to all government agencies to prepare for the expected rains and possible damages of the phenomenon.

At a media briefing this afternoon in Malacanang, Andaya said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has alerted the government of the possible occurrence of La Nina in the summer months of March, April and May.

"The President has already directed all departments to be prepared for this phenomenon and the DBM will spearhead this and make sure that available funds will be there as needed," Andaya said.

Higher than normal sea levels in the western Pacific are a signature of the La Niņa phenomenon, characterized by a sustained drop in sea-surface temperatures that can last for at least six months.

Malacanang assured today the families of the victims of the ULTRA stampede that no amount of propaganda waged by affected interests would deter the government from giving them justice.

Press Secretary and concurrent Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo wants the truth to prevail and those who are accountable for the tragedy are punished.

"President Arroyo is out for the truth and to defend the victims who cannot defend themselves," Bunye said in a statement.

"The families of the victims will obtain justice from this government, and no amount of propaganda from affected interests will deter us from this pursuit," he added.

Bunye said that results of the fact-finding probe conducted by the Department of Interior and Local Government and the first hand account of the victims revealed that such tragic incident could have been prevented "if proper crowd control measures and coordination with proper authorities were made by the event organizers."

He added that the government is coming up with measures to prevent the occurrence of similar incidents in the future.