The assertion made by Time Magazine on their report supports the existence of a clear and present threat that necessitated the declaration of the state of emergency.

We have said all there is to say about the surveys. It is time to stop belaboring our opinions and buckle down to work.

The assessment of PSA (Pacific Strategies and Assessments) glosses over the real record. Our achievements in the anti-kidnapping campaign have been remarkably consistent.

Malacanang said today it is prepared for any constitutional challenges to the Presidency and fight impeachment with the same resolve it had demonstrated in preempting the conspiracy to grab power last February.

"This is a presidency and a government that cannot be pushed around by impeachers or coup plotters," Press Secretary and concurrent Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said.

The Malacanang official dismissed the second impeachment case against the President being planned by her critics, saying it is already defeated even before it could be hatched due to the sheer hollowness of the allegations and claims.

"We are prepared for any constitutional challenges to the Presidency and we shall fight impeachment with the same zeal and resolve we had in preempting and confronting extra-constitutional attacks," Bunye said.

The opposition in the House of Representatives said they would file the second impeachment case against the President in July.

The impeachment case filed against the President in the House of Representatives last year failed to muster the required two-thirds vote to send the complaint to the Senate for trial.

Malacanang said today the assessment of Pacific Strategies and Assessments (PSA) branding the Philippines as a kidnapping hotspot overlooks the real record of the government in its drive against the menace.

Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said in a statement the achievements of the Arroyo administration in the anti-kidnapping campaign has been remarkably consistent.

"Our drive to dismantle these kidnap syndicates has been pursued without letup, with solid cooperation from both the victims’ kin and the public as a whole," he stressed.

Bunye was reacting to published reports quoting the international risk assessment group as saying abductions were taking place every three days in the country, noting the "weak rule of law, rampant corruption and ineffective law enforcement."

The Philippine National Police (PNP), which the PSA said is part of the problem and solution, strongly disagreed with the findings.

Despite limited resources, PNP spokesman Senior Supt. Samuel D. Pagdilao Jr. said police efforts to curb kidnapping were considered effective.

"Unlike in the past when there were more than 10 kidnappings a year, the PNP has trimmed down cases of abductions to manageable levels," he said.

The putting up of reward money, Pagdilao noted, has contributed to the PNP’s success in neutralizing several kidnap-for-ransom groups.

"Public perception that policemen are in cahoots with kidnap gangs has been slowly eradicated with the no-nonsense drive against kidnap syndicates in recent years," he added.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is unfazed by negative survey results as she trains her attention on implementing key policies of her administration, notably revitalizing the economy and uplifting the lives of the Filipinos.

Press Secretary and concurrent Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio R. Bunye said Malacanang had said all there is to say about surveys.

The Presidency, he pointed out, is not all about popularity but about upholding the rule of law and letting the poorest of the poor feel the benefits of an improving economy.

"We have said all there is to say about the surveys. It is time to stop belaboring our opinions and buckle down to work," he added.

Bunye said the Philippines "will not move forward on the weight of polls. It is a clear plan for the nation and the determination to carry it out that will make the difference."

He stressed that hard work, not surveys or popularity contests, will invigorate the economy, create jobs and move the country forward.

Bunye said it’s not surprising that tough decisions made by the President to preserve democracy and institute far-reaching economic and political reforms would not make her popular.

Yet, the benefits derived from these unpalatable decisions are now slowly being felt, he added.

Strong revenue performance allowed the government to register a budget deficit of P25 billion in February, an overperformance of P2.2 billion against the programmed deficit ceiling of P27.2 billion, the Department of Finance said.

Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) tax collection grew 32% to P41.7 billion last month, exceeding its target by P3 billion. The Bureau of Customs (BOC) improved its collection by 37% to P12.6 billion, ahead of its goal by P300 million. The Bureau of Treasury (BTr) collected P6.7 billion, 78.2% better than last year and higher by P3.4 billion against its goal.

"Our revenue enhancing measures are yielding the desired results," Finance Secretary Margarito Teves said. "And hopefully, this will help us achieve our revenue goal this year."

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo commended the tax agencies on their significantly improved collections. "Their efforts generate the revenues that will enhance economic growth and help lift the Filipino people from poverty," she said.

February expenditures amounted to P89.2 billion, 23.5% higher than last year. Of total expenditures, P13.5 billion went to local government units while P37.3 billion were channeled to various government expenses.

"The higher revenues allowed us to channel more resources into sorely needed social services," Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr. said.

For the January-February period, the national government fiscal deficit registered at P40.4 billion, ahead of the program by P7.7 billion.

SORSOGON CITY— On the day former Malacanang chaplain Monsignor Augusto Laban celebrated his sacerdotal jubilee here as a priest, he said he has nothing but admiration for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, one of the many people whose lives he has touched in the course of his vocation.

"I admire her for being religious, she hears mass everyday wherever she is, and I really feel that she is being guided by the Lord," exclaimed Monsignor Laban moments after the concelebrated Holy Mass held in his honor at the Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral in this city.

Now in his 70s, Fr. Laban knows whereof he speaks.

As Palace chaplain for four years, starting in 2001 when President Arroyo assumed power, he has touched many lives in Malacanang with his homilies. He also acted as spiritual director and personal adviser of the President.

Before his Malacanang pastoral stint, he was the Parish priest of the nearby St. Michael’s Church.

"I am very positive that the President’s faith has enabled her to thwart destabilization attempts against her administration," he said.

The President was among the parishioners, family members and friends who graced the golden anniversary of the Sacerdotal Ordination of Msgr. Laban.

The President recalled that shortly after she assumed office in 2001, Msgr. Laban, then the parish priest of St. Michael’s Church, was assigned as palace chaplain and stayed as such for four years.

"Monsignor Laban would be there everyday saying mass for us, but not just saying mass for us, he was there as our spiritual director. As our pastor, he would nurture us, pray with us, comfort us, listen to our woes, listen to our joys, never condemning, always understanding, always affirming," she said in her message during the one-and-a-half hour Mass.

"And I know this is what he’d done for 50 years to so many and my family joins all of the people whose lives he has touched. Monsignor, have a wonderful golden anniversary and may you serve the Lord and the people," the President said.

With the President during the solemn occasion were Sorsogon Governor Raul Lee, Sorsogon City Mayor Sally Lee, Representative Jose Solis, Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya, Presidential Son Diosdado "Dato" Macapagal-Arroyo and Mrs. Gina de Venecia, wife of House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr.

Malacanang said today the Time Magazine coup story has substantiated the existence of a clear and present danger that necessitated the declaration by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of a state of emergency under Presidential Proclamation 1017 last Feb. 24.

Press Secretary and concurrent Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio R. Bunye said the declaration of the Time Magazine correspondent that she was standing by her story is a disclaimer to the President’s critics statement that the imminent danger the government perceived as reason in proclaiming Presidential Proclamation 1017 was imagined.

"The assertion made by Time Magazine on their report supports the existence of a clear and present threat that necessitated the declaration of a state of emergency," Bunye said.

The Time Magazine correspondent stood by her story that Jose Cojuangco, a brother of former President Corazon Aquino, and Pastor "Boy" Saycon, head of the Council on Philippine Affairs, were among those who allegedly planned the failed Feb. 25 coup attempt.

"The report of the Time (magazine) speaks for itself and our law enforcement agencies are now building up the cases against the personalities involved in the failed coup plot. We are determined to mop up all conspiracies and thus accord peace of mind to the Filipino people," Bunye said.

The article, entitled "Emergency Rules," was published in the Feb. 26, 2006 issue of the international news magazine.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), which is investigating the extent of the failed coup attempt, has invited Cojuangco, Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim and Saycon to air their sides.

So far, only Cojuangco and Lim have shown up at the NBI office.

LIGAO CITY, Albay – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo led the groundbreaking today of the P328 million Ligao-Pio Duran road project that would play a big role in the promotion of economic development and agricultural activities between Ligao City and the coastal town of Pio Duran and the rest of the Bicol region.

The President flew to Barangay Tula-Tula, Ligao City (via presidential chopper) from Sorsogon City to personally lead the ceremonial construction of the Ligao-Pio Duran road. She earlier attended the concelebrated Mass for the 50th Sacerdotal Anniversary of Msgr. Augusto Laban at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Sorsogon City.

Upon arrival, the President lowered the time capsule signaling the start of the construction of the road connecting Ligao City and Pio Duran. The Ligao-Pio Duran road has been the major problem of the residents for almost three decades, contributing to the slow development of economic activities particularly in the municipality of Pio Duran.

Assisting the President were Albay Gov. Fernando Gonzales, Vice Gov. James Calisin, Albay 3rd District Rep. Jose Ma. Clemente Salceda, Rep. Joey Salceda, Ligao City Mayor Linda Gonzales and Pio Duran Mayor Dante Arandia.

During the brief program, Governor Gonzales relayed to the President the sincere gratitude and appreciation of his constituents for the formal construction of the Ligao-Pio Duran road.

"Thank you, Madam President, for making it happen," Governor Gonzales told the President.

The Ligao-Pio Duran road is an important arterial road network in the Bicol region and forms part of the East-West lateral road in the province of Albay. It will connect with the Philippine-Japan Friendship Highway at Ligao and the coastal town of Pio Duran.

The construction of the Ligao-Pio Duran road will start next month and is expected to be completed in November 2007. The project will be funded under the proceeds of the loan agreement entered into by the Government of the Philippines (GOP) and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).