Inihalal ninyo ako upang ayusin ang ekonomiya, mamuhunan sa ating mamamayan, at tanggalin ang nakadudurog na bigat ng kahirapan. Nagtatagumpay ang plano ko; sumusulong na ang ekonomiya. Patibay nito ang malakas na piso, lumalagong investment mula sa ibayong dagat, at mas malaking koleksiyon ng buwis na siyang popondo sa mga serbisyo publiko gaya ng edukasyon, pagamot at imprastraktura.

Subalit sa gitna ng pagsigla ng ekonomiya, may mga elemento sa ating lipunan na sukat naglunsad ng pakanang pabagsakin ang ating pamahalaan.

Isang linggo na ang nakararaan, nagsanib ang mga malisyosong destabilizer at mga sundalo at pulis na ligaw upang samantalahin ang maramdaming pangyayari sa ikadalawampung pagdiriwang ng EDSA. Wala silang ibang hangarin kundi ang sabotahe ng Saligang Batas at pagwasak ng legal na gobyerno ng Pilipinas. Ayon sa mga pangyayari, bumuo ako ng paghusga na may clear and present danger sa Republika dahil sa pagsasama ng mga puwersang ito. Bilang Commander-in-Chief ng Sandatahang Lakas at ayon sa kapangyarihang kaloob sa akin ng Konstitusyon, kumilos ako upang ipagtanggol ang katiwasayan ng mamamayan at sambayanan.

Napatibayan ang aking pagkabahala: maraming subersibo at ilang mga kawal at pulis ang naaresto natin. Bahala ang ating sistema ng hustisya sa kanilang makatarungang paglilitis. At gaya ng nakita natin noong Linggo ng gabi, nagpatuloy ang pakikibaka sa mga araw na sumunod. Kaya naman hindi ko binawi ang State of Emergency hanggang matiyak kong ligtas at maayos ang bayan.

Hindi ito hakbang basta ko ginawa; napakalaki ang nakataya upang kumilos nang kapos. Naniniwala ako na napalakas at nasanggahan ng aking ginawa ang ating mga karapatan at ang kalayaan ng media sa banta ng diktadurang leftist-rightist, at aking ipinagtanggol ang pagsulong ng ekonomiya na pinagsikapan nating matamo.

Ngayon, matapos ang isang linggo, ikinagagalak kong sabihin na nawasak ang pagsasabwatan, at panahon na upang bumalik sa tunay na gawain ng pamahalaan. Matibay ang aking tiwala na nanumbalik ang kaayusan. Samakatwid, ayon sa kapangayarihang kaloob sa akin ng Saligang Batas, ipinapahayag ko na mula sa sandaling ito hindi na umiiral ang State of Emergency.

Ibig kong pasalamatan ang ating mga tauhang militar at pulis na hindi nagpadala sa hatak ng politika at nanatiling tapat sa kanilang kalooban at sa bayan na sumpa nilang ipagtanggol. Napakarami nilang pasanin alang-alang sa atin. Inatasan ko si Defense Secretary Cruz na mamuno sa malawakang balik-tanaw upang alamin ang pananaw ng ating mga kawal sa larangan, tugunin ang kanilang mga hinaing at pangangailangan, at siguruhing magpapatuloy ang reporma sa Sandatahang Lakas tungo sa modernisasyon at katarungan. Ganoon din sa kapulisan.

Nagpapasalamat din ako sa ating mga pinunong lokal at pambansa na nanindigan sa panig ng demokrasya. At hindi ko mapupuri nang sapat ang dunong ng ating mga kababayan sa pag-unawa na nasa kasipagan ang magandang kinabukasan, wala sa pag-aalsa sa lansangan.

Napakahalaga ngayon na tumigil na ang ating mga kalaban sa politika at ang mga oportunista sa perhuwisyo sa ekonomiya at kahihiyan sa Pilipinas dulot ng mga walang kuwentang palabas.

Mas malakas ang bayan sa mabilis at buong loob nating pagtugon sa hamong ito. Hindi ko kailanman kukunsintihin ang ganitong uring adventurism. At kahit ilang ulit, kikilos ako nang may paninindigan at determinasyon tuwing mamimilit ang ating mga kaaway ng alanganin sa bansa at pahamak sa ekonomiya.

Samantala, pinagpala tayong nakatira sa masiglang demokrasya na malakas, matatag, at sumusulong.

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 18, Article VII and Section 17, Article XII of the Constitution, Proclamation No. 1017 dated February 24, 2006 was issued declaring a state of national emergency;

WHEREAS, by virtue of General Order No. 5 and No. 6 dated February 24, 2006, which were issued on the basis of Proclamation No. 1017, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) were directed to maintain law and order throughout the Philippines, prevent and suppress all forms of lawless violence as well as any act of rebellion and to undertake such actions as may be necessary;

WHEREAS, the AFP and PNP have effectively prevented, suppressed and quelled the acts of lawless violence and rebellion;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, hereby declare that the state of national emergency has ceased to exist.

City of Manila, March 3, 2006.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo lifted this morning the state of national emergency, or Proclamation 1017, she declared a week ago, following assurances from security officials that the danger from a coup plot had receded.

The lifting of the state of emergency is contained in Proclamation 1021, which pointed out that the "AFP and PNP have effectively prevented, suppressed and quelled the acts of lawlessness and rebellion" that prompted the issuance of Proclamation 1017.

The President warned, however, that she would not hesitate to act resolutely against forces out to endanger the country’s security and derail the economy.

She added that she would not allow any adventurism similar to last weekend’s conspiracy to overthrow the government.

"I will not stand for this kind of adventurism at any time. I am prepared to will act with the same force of will and determination again and again if our opponents insist on disturbing the nation’s stability and hurting our economy," she said.

"Now, after a week, I am happy to announce that the conspiracy among the political opposition, the extreme Left and the extreme Right has been thwarted, and it is now time to resume our task of governance. I strongly believe that law and order has been restored. By the powers bestowed in me by the Constitution, I am now lifting the State of Emergency," she said in the vernacular.

The President thanked the police and the military for remaining loyal to the chain of command and to the national and local officials for standing up firmly for democracy.

She also thanked the Filipino people for discerning that instead of improving their lives, destabilization moves would only make things worse.

The Chief Executive said those who were involved in the coup plot would be dealt with the full force of the law.

"It is important that law and order have been restored as the economy suffered a setback due to these destabilization moves," she stressed.

Looking back, the President explained that her proclamation of a national state of emergency was not a spur of the moment decision, saying it was the right thing to do at the time in order to preserve democracy and sustain the country’s economic growth.

She said her decision to issue Proclamation 1017 was backed by factual evidence as shown by the arrest in the past few days of subversive personalities, as well as police and military men involved in the failed coup.

"You elected me as your President to improve our economy and improve the lives of the Filipinos by working hard on eradicating poverty, and I succeeded in these plans; the economy is on a takeoff as shown by the strong peso, bullish stock market, more foreign investments and improved tax collection that would fund public services in education, health and infrastructure," the President said.

She lamented that just as the economy was taking off, her critics and political opponents conspired to oust her and destroy the gains achieved by the government.

The President directed Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz to act immediately on the grievances of members of the military and implement the reforms needed towards a more professional and mission capable Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

In recommending to the President the lifting of the state of national emergency, Cruz, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez and Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Arturo Lomibao agreed that while the threat of a coup had receded, the government must remain vigilant.

Cruz reiterated his call to administration critics to "insulate the AFP from politics, respect the Constitution and stop interfering with the AFP and the Philippine Marines."

"Leave them alone to do their job," he said.

Gonzalez said the attempt to bring down the government had been thwarted, "but we need continued vigilance."

"Many have been arrested and many are under tactical interrogation," he added.

I was elected to fix our economy, invest in the people and eliminate the crushing burden of poverty. My plan is working and the economy has been turned around. Evidence of this is a strong peso, more foreign investments and increased collection of taxes to help pay for services like education, healthcare and infrastructure.

Against the backdrop of economic progress, elements within our society decided to launch an unsuccessful overthrow of our government.

A week ago today an alliance of malicious destabilizers and misguided military intriguers set about to take advantage of the emotional swirl of our nation's EDSA celebration. Their intention was no less than the sabotage of our Constitution and to bring down the legal government of the Philippines. I made the judgment at the time that this convergence of forces posed a clear and present danger to the Republic. As commander-in-chief of the armed forces and within the power granted me by the Constitution, I took steps to insure the stability of the people and the nation.

My concerns were subsequently borne out: we have arrested scores of destabilizers and several military personnel. We have documented case-by-case and in specific detail the transgressions for which they now stand accused. Our justice system will see to their fair trial. The truth will come out. And as you saw play out last Sunday night, the struggle continued through the weekend. As such, I kept in place the SOE until I was sure the nation was safe and sound.

Throughout this ordeal, I have been keenly aware of the anxiety that the state of emergency created within many segments of society. It was not an action I took lightly, but I felt too much was at stake to do anything less. I believe my actions strengthened and protected our civil liberties and free press, and maintained the economic gains we have fought so hard to secure.

Today, a week later, I am happy to report that the cabal is broken and it is time to get back to the real business of governing. I am confident that order has been restored. Therefore, with the power vested in me by our Constitution, I declare, that effective immediately, the state of emergency is no longer in affect.

I want to thank our military men and women who withstood the political gamesmanship and remained true to their conscience and to the nation they are sworn to protect. They bear many burdens on our behalf. I have asked Defense Secretary Cruz to lead a bottom-up review to get the views of our soldiers in the field and make sure reform of the military continues on its course toward modernization and justice.

I want to thank our many local and national government leaders who stood by the side of democracy. And I cannot say enough about the wisdom of our people who understand that the best way to a bright future is through hard work, not taking to the streets.

It is essential now that our political opponents and opportunists stop undermining our economy at home and embarrassing the nation abroad with their cheap political antics. For the love of nation, it is time to make things work and get things done. Let us please all work for the common good.

Our nation is stronger for dealing quickly and decisively with this issue. I will not stand for this kind of adventurism at any time. And I will act with the same force of will and determination again and again if our opponents insist on inflicting instability on the nation and hurting our economy.