President Arroyo is following this case closely and expects the police to conduct a swift investigation to bring the culprits to justice. She also supports all effective means to accord protection to judges in the performance of their duty, so that justice shall not be assaulted in this manner.

Let us refrain from speculations and let the probe take its course.

Both the Philippines and the United States are determined to pursue justice under due process of law. Philippine sovereignty is firm as we anticipate the issuance of the warrant of arrest against the suspects, which will mark the inception of trial.

Philippine sovereignty and criminal justice shall be upheld in all stages.

President Arroyo’s focus is on her vision for the country in terms of social reforms, economic takeoff and political change.

Our agenda is not to please anybody except the Filipino people who have waited too long for a better life and future.

Our concern is to bring in results in terms of providing more investments, jobs, infrastructure and socioeconomic relief for those most in need.

SAGADA, Mt. Province – On her first working day of the new year, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered today the release of P35 billion to buttress the government’s fight against poverty, hunger and unemployment and pump prime the economy.

In a declaration highly symbolic of the priority her administration is giving to the war on poverty, the President said the P35 billion allocation will finance pro-poor programs such as education, housing, health, food and public works.

"On this first working day of 2006, I want to declare to you we will pursue the fight against poverty, hunger and unemployment…And to be able to move forward with the speed of light, I have asked my Cabinet to release P35 billion immediately to help the poor people of the Philippines," she said.

The President made the announcement this morning during a simple program at the St. Mary’s High School Quadrangle here, after she inaugurated the P17.3 million Nangonogan-Aguid farm to market road (FMR) upgrading project.

The FMR is part of the Baguio-Bontoc-Banaue Road (Halsema) in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

The President also directed the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to release P500 million for the construction of FMRs in various parts of the country during the first quarter of the year.

To her detractors, the President said it is now the time to leave the past behind and for all Filipinos to join hands in the great national effort to win the race for economic excellence.

She said the strong performance of the peso against the US dollar, the recent 50 centavos rollback of oil prices, and the fresh investments flowing into the country underline the country’s "great leap forward."

"The vibrant economic indicators are propelling the nation to a bright new year…We open the gate of a new race for regional and world competition and I’m confident that you, our people, are ready to break out to a strong start," she said.

She said that as a result of the positive developments in the Philippine economy, investors are now more confident in infusing fresh investments into the country and tapping the potentials of the world class Filipino workers.

"To pump prime the economy and bring the dividends of growth to the poorest households of our society, the project that we inaugurated today exemplify what’s in store for our people with that P35 billion pump priming fund," she said.

The President was referring to the Nangonogan-Aguid FMR which is expected to boost economic activity in the six barangays of Aguid, Pide, Fidelisan, Banga-An, Madongo and Kilong since the people in the area will now be able to transport their products easily to other parts of Luzon.

The President’s visit to Sagada marked the end of the First Family’s annual Christmas holiday in Baguio City.

She was joined in Sagada by First Gentleman Atty. Jose Miguel Arroyo, Mt. Province Governor Maximo Dalog, Sagada Mayor Robert Baaten, Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman, Environment Secretary Michael Defensor and Presidential Assistant for the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) Tom Killip.

SAGADA, Mt. Province – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo witnessed today the signing of two Memoranda of Agreement (MOA) in a ceremony held at the St. Mary’s High School Quadrangle here.

The first agreement between the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the municipal government of Sadanga was for the delineation and marking of the actual political boundaries of the municipality of Sadanga.

The MOA was signed by DENR Secretary Michael Defensor and Sadanga Municipal Mayor Gabino Ganggangan.

The second accord called for the adoption of the Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices on forest management in the government programs and policies. It was signed by Defensor, Mountain Province Governor Maximo Dalog, and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) – Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) chairperson Janette Serano.

The President also awarded a P3 million check from the Presidential Social Fund (PSF) to NICP – CAR to finance the delineation/titling and formulation of the ancestral domain sustainable development plan of the Ancestral Domain of Bauko.

She also witnessed the turnover by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) of a post harvest facility to the Besao Multi-Purpose Cooperative. DAR Secretary Nasser Pangandaman turned over the facility to the cooperative.

The P2.8 million facility will benefit residents of 13 barangays engaged in the production of rice, cabbage, pepper and camote.

The President and Pangandaman also awarded Certificates of Land Ownership Agreement (CLOA) to land reform beneficiaries in the province.

The Provincial Consultative Body (PCB), through its chairman, Leon Langtiwan, was given P200,000 for its operation.

The Chief Executive also turned over to the Sagada local government unit (LGU) the Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development Protection Plan (ADSDPP).

The President was accompanied during her visit here by First Gentleman Atty. Jose Miguel Arroyo, Defensor, Pangandaman and CAR Cabinet Officer for Regional Development (CORD) Silvestre Afable Jr.

She also visited tourists spots in Sagada and viewed the world famous rice terraces in Barangay Banga-an and the site of the hanging coffins in Barangay Ambasing.

Mt. Province Governor Dalog expressed his gratitude to the President, an adopted sister and daughter of the province, for her assistance to the province. Describing the President as "Kaplaan," meaning "strong willed woman," Dalog also said she is the only leader of the country who visits the Mountain Province every year.

"We are very thankful that our beloved President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo chose to spend her first working day here in our province. We assure you, Madam President, that we will continue to support your government. Welcome home, our adopted sister-daughter," Dalog said.

Malacanang expressed confidence today that the killing of Pasay City Regional Trial Court Presiding Judge Henrick Gingoyon would not unduly delay the opening of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3, considered as a key element of the country’s economic takeoff.

At the same time, Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye said in a statement that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is following the slay case closely and expects the police to conduct a swift investigation to bring the culprits to justice.

"She also supports all effective means to accord protection to judges in the performance of their duty, so that justice shall not be assaulted in this manner," Bunye added.

Judge Gingoyon was gunned down by two motorcycle-riding suspects on New Year’s eve near his house in Bacoor, Cavite.

Gingoyon was the judge who ordered the government takeover of the NAIA Terminal 3 and allowed its builder – the Philippine International Air Terminals Co. (Piatco) -- to withdraw the money deposited by the government. The Supreme Court affirmed the takeover, but only after the payment of full just compensation to Piatco.

Malacanang said today that Philippine sovereignty and criminal justice system will be upheld in the case involving four American soldiers accused of raping a 22-year-old Filipina at the Subic Bay Freeport in Olongapo City last Nov. 1.

Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said that both the Philippines and the United States were determined to pursue justice under due process of law.

"Philippine sovereignty is firm as we anticipate the issuance of the warrant of arrest against the suspects, which will mark the inception of the trial," Bunye said.

He added that "Philippine sovereignty and criminal justice system shall be upheld in all stages" of the litigation of the case.

Bunye pointed out that the incident is an isolated one and while the "case may indeed be a test on some provisions of the VFA (Visiting Forces Agreement), it should not be a test of our time-honored friendship with the United States."

CALAPAN CITY—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is scheduled to visit again this city tomorrow, Tuesday, to inspect the ongoing repair and rehabilitation of the vital infrastructure facilities destroyed by floods following the breaching of the Bucayao River Protection Dike last December.

Upon her arrival here, the Chief Executive will observe the ongoing sandbagging operation on the breached dike which caused the flooding of Calapan City and neighboring towns.

She is also expected to be briefed by Oriental Mindoro Gov. Arnan Panaligan on the relief and rehabilitation efforts conducted jointly by the national and provincial governments for the flood victims.

Last Dec. 29, while on her annual Christmas holiday in Baguio City, the President ordered the release of P66 million for the repair of the dike which was constructed in 1975 to prevent water from Bucayao and Mag-asawang Tubig rivers from overflowing.