President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo acknowledges with humility and an open mind the pastoral statement of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said this morning.

"She wholeheartedly supports the renewal of our public life through moral values, national solidarity, the ascendancy of truth, the welfare of the poor and heroic Christian citizenship," Bunye said in a statement.

Among the points raised in the pastoral statement released Sunday is the need to continue the search for truth in the allegations of electoral fraud against the President in the 2004 polls.

"We are open to all just and fair means under the law to ferret out the truth surrounding all controversies affecting the Presidency," Bunye said.

He added: "In this regard, the President bows to the judgment of the Almighty and the people through the institutions of Constitutional democracy."

On CBCP’s call that the 2007 elections should push through and for the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to be transformed into a reliable body, Malacaņang vowed to translate its firm commitment to electoral reform into concrete programs and ensure that appointments to the poll body would be beyond reproach.

Enforcement of the rules of suffrage will be strictly enforced, Bunye said.

He asserted that the administration fully supports all aspects of constitutional change, "transparency and relative serenity that allows for rational discussion and debate. We invite the opposition to do the same for the nation."

Malacaņang shares the bishops’ call for an end to political bickering, and giving attention to give immediate relief to the poor. "President Arroyo has been on the road since the start in quest for jobs, stable prices, cheaper medicine and broader education for the masses. She is paying back to the people the fruits of economic growth," Bunye said.

He said Malacaņang will always support CBCP’s call for the government to always immerse itself in the "fountain of the people."

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered today the release of P1 billion to the Philippine National Police (PNP) to fund the hiring of 15,000 additional policemen and the purchase of 1,500 patrol cars and 5,000 brand new handguns to give a new push to the PNP modernization program.

She issued the directive during the ceremonies marking the 15^th PNP anniversary at the national police’s headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City this morning.

The PNP, she said, is "among the first to benefit from the tax dividends" arising from the robust revenue collections following the implementation of tax reforms.

In her speech during the anniversary celebration, the President stressed that the P1 billion allocation, as well as the previous releases to the PNP, was made possible by the gains from the Reformed Value Added Tax (RVAT) Law and the greater efficiency of the government’s tax collection campaign.

"Value Added Tax collection should result in Value Added Protection of those who pay them. One proof that our taxes work for our people is to add the number of policemen and women working for them. The rebate our people are entitled to from good tax collections will come in the form of more policemen who can outrun, outmaneuver and, if necessary, outshoot the toughest of the goons," the President said.

"To make this come about, today and in the next few days of this week, we are releasing a series of SAROs (Special Allotment Release Orders) worth P1 billion for the Philippine National Police," she said.

The P1 billion allocation, she pointed out, will be used "so that the PNP can hire new policemen, buy new handguns and buy new patrol cars."

She said that in the next five years, she expects the PNP to hire 15,000 more policemen "who will not be chained to desks but will pound the streets and the towns that they will be assigned to serve and protect" the people.

The President also instructed the PNP that 15 percent of 15,000 policemen to be hired should be women who "will be the assuring face behind the women’s desk in the police stations."

"They will help desperate housewives and distressed children," she said.

"Tax collections now allow us to refleet our PNP patrol vehicles. As I speak, an acquisition plan for 1,500 patrol cars is being hammered out; 500 this year, 500 next year and 500 thereafter," the President said.

"When the police roam our communities, we want them to be properly armed. Therefore, I have instructed Gen. Arturo Lomibao to use part of the P1-billion to buy 5,000 new handguns. And we will be buying at least 5,000 new handguns every year for the next five years thereafter," the President added.

To augment this formidable "modernization program," the President has also enlisted the assistance of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) whose Hotline 117 has been instrumental in keeping criminals at bay.

She instructed DILG Secretary Angelo Reyes to add 50 new hotlines to augment the police emergency response network so that "a citizen in need of help will be assured that a policeman can always be reached within the coverage area."

For his part, PNP Police Director General Arturo Lomibao pledged to intensify the PNP’s anti-crime campaign and go after "more kidnappers, carnappers and hijackers."

"We are also bent on improving our crime scene investigation capability, anti-insurgency offensives and anti-terrorism initiatives," Lomibao said.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo vowed today to raise the salaries of the men and women of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in appreciation of their "guts, grace and gallantry."

Speaking during ceremonies marking the 15^th anniversary of the PNP at its National Headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City, the Chief Executive also vowed to provide 1,000 scholarships to the children of policemen who have died or have been wounded in the line of duty.

"Once again, I have asked Congress to pass our urgent administrative measure for a budgetary allocation for compensation increase so that the 120,000 members of the PNP can receive an average 8 percent increase in your compensation together with other civil servants," the President said.

"This morning, I talked to Commission on Higher Education Chair Carlito Puno and gave instructions to open 1,000 new scholarship slots for children of policemen with the highest priority given to the children of policemen who have fallen or have been wounded in action," she added.

Following her speech, President Arroyo led in the presentation of awards and citations to PNP units and personnel in recognition of their outstanding performance last year.

She was assisted by Interior and Local Government Secretary and National Police Commission Chairman Angelo Reyes and PNP Chief, Director General Arturo Lomibao.

After the awarding ceremonies, the President inaugurated the newly constructed medium-rise PNP condominium and formally opened it to policemen beneficiaries.

Costing P75.6 million, the PNP condominium is a five-storey building with 80 units, each with a floor area of 35 square meters.

It is intended to provide decent and affordable housing to PNP personnel and their families.

The project was started on Dec. 22, 2004.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo inducted the newly appointed government officials under the Office of the President (OP) during a mass oathtaking ceremony at the Rizal Hall of Malacaņang this afternoon.

Among those inducted were Presidential Assistant for Veterans Affairs Jesus Terry Adevoso, chairman of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) Rolando Atienza, and chairperson of Cinema Evaluation Board (CEB) of the FDCP Christine Dayrit.

Also inducted from the private sector were the officers and members of the Veterans Federation of the Philippines (VFP), Philippine Veterans Legion (PVL), Junior Chamber International Philippines (JCIP), Association of Government Internal Auditors (AGIA), Katipunan ng mga Artistang Pilipino sa Pelikula at Telebisyon (KAPPT) and the TV News Cameramen.

Witnessing the ceremony were Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye.

Atienza said his thrust is to develop the economic viability of the film industry, find new markets for Filipino films here and abroad, support local film fests and join international film exhibitions showcasing the country’s artistic masterpieces.

The 39-year-old Dayrit, a film producer and travel writer, is also the vice president for public affairs of the family-owned Miladay Jewels. She finished her masters in Film Production at Boston University in Massachusetts. She co-produced with Viva Films the award-winning "Andres Manambit" and "Hiram na Mukha." She also co-produced the remakes of "Isla" and "Virgin People" with Four Aces Films.

Dayrit also produced telesines for GMA 7 including "Walang Katapusang Wakas" which bagged the GMA Bahaghari Awards. The lady producer made 51 telemovies directed by Joel Lamangan, Celso Ad Castillo, among others.

A member of the CEB since 2003, Dayrit writes a travel column for the Philippine Star every other Sunday entitled "Rendezvous." She is also the travel editor of the in-flight magazine of the Asian Spirit.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo led the unveiling this afternoon of the University of Santo Tomas’ Civil Law Mural at the university’s lobby.

The mural, painted by Thomasian painter Danilo Santiago, depicts the history of the UST Faculty of Civil Law from its founding in 1734 to the present.

A three-panel painting that covers the uppermost portion of the Faculty’s lobby, the mural also includes the portraits of the illustrious and famous alumni of the UST Faculty of Civil Law, including the President’s father, the late President Diosdado Macapagal, who was a bar topnotcher.

Also in the mural were the late Presidents Manuel L. Quezon and Sergio Osmena, who were also Thomasians.

Among the law luminaries and civil servants who are Thomasians are former Supreme Court Chief Justices Andres Narvasa, Cayetano Arellano, Victorino Mapa and Ramon Avancena.

The national hero Dr. Jose Rizal, together with Emilio Jacinto, Claro M. Recto, Apolinario Mabini and Felipe Agoncillo, all UST alumni, were also depicted in the mural.

Manila Bulletin Board Chairman Don Emilio Yap donated the amount needed for the painting of the mural

He was given a framed replica of the mural.

Also present during the unveiling ceremony were Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban and the heirs of the famous and illustrious Thomasians.