Malacanang said today the government will not be intimidated by threats coming from the communist New People’s Army (NPA) terrorist group which is celebrating its 37^th anniversary today.

The rebels have a history of mounting violent attacks against government targets during the founding anniversary of the NPA, the armed group of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

"The government will not be cowed by threats that come from communist terrorist organizations, such as the new People’s Army," Press Secretary and concurrent Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said this morning.

He said that for the last 37 years, the communist terrorists have held hostage the hopes and aspirations for peace and prosperity of the Filipinos, especially those living in the countryside.

Bunye stressed that the "government will continue to defend its citizens against these godless terrorists who use their arms to exact taxes and threaten legitimate businesses and private citizens into kowtowing to their diabolical objectives to seize power through violent means."

He said they have demonstrated their unequivocal support for the military and the police in the campaign to end dissident activities in the countryside.

"Our people have thrown their full support to the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police in its combined efforts to seek the peace by quelling insurgency in the countryside. Let us continue to support our soldiers and police in their fight for enduring peace and progress," he added.

CAMP CASTANEDA, SILANG, Cavite – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo hailed today the 177 new graduates of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) for showing their professionalism and loyalty to the Constitution in the recent attempt to destabilize the government.

The President issued the remarks during the 27th commencement exercises of the "Bagsay Lahi Class 2006" of the PNPA in Camp General Mariano N. Castaneda here.

"I will take this opportunity to thank the PNP leadership and cadet corps for your professional loyalty during the recent attempts to create divisions in our uniformed services," she said.

The President expressed optimism that the PNPA graduates this year have a good future because of their strong determination to remain loyal to the chain of command, especially to the Constitution, by isolating themselves from the dirty game of politics in the country.

"Indeed, as you have adverted, you must be conscious of the changing demands of the times and enhance your knowledge and skills to respond to the various threats of our national security such as terrorism and insurgency and the related conduits for underground financing and political support," she said.

The President reiterated her earlier statement during the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) graduation last week that her political detractors, including the group of military adventurists, are wrong if they pursue their plan to unseat her.

"The Filipino people want progress not a rerun of the past. Everyone will take the price of adventurism and it will be severe because it will impact on our economy and the livelihood of the people," she said.

The President commended the Bagsay Lahi Class 2006 of the PNPA, particularly Jonathan Robert Cole Rongavilla who was among the topnotchers in the recent public service examinations. Rongavilla placed 8^th in the exams.

During the program, the President awarded diplomas to the 177 new police inspectors, and handed over the Presidential Kampilan award to class valedictorian Cdt Benjamin Dinamling Balais, a BS Biology graduate and former teacher from Lamut Beckel in La Trinidad, Benguet.

Balais received the PNP Kampilan for obtaining the highest overall rating and proficiency among the 163 graduates joining the public service and the Leadership Kampilan as Class president.

Included in the top 10 are Cdt Lemuel Josef Jancon Clarete (2nd place), an AB Philosophy graduate and also a former teacher from Nuro, Upi, Maguindanao, who was awarded the Vice Presidential Kampilan; Cdt Stephen George Badang Antonio (3rd place), a BS Electronics and Communications Engineer of Egan, Poblalcion, Tadian, Mt. Province, who received the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government (SILG) Kampilan;

Cdt Neva Renchie Ituralde de Chaves (6th place) received the Chief Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Kampilan for getting the highest overall rating and proficiency among the graduates joining the jail service; Cdt Arlene Nicdao Abuan (7th place) got the Chief Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Kampilan for having the highest overall rating and proficiency among the graduates joining the fire bureau;

Cdt Dinulong Bayuga Tombali got the President Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC) Kampilan as First Captain; Cdt Morgan Balbin Aguilar received the Journalism Kampilan from Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye as Editor-in-Chief of Kalasag, the official publication of the PNPA Corps of Cadets; and Cdt Zyrus Michael Cherwaken Serrano, the Athletic Kampilan.

The rest of the Top 10: Cdt Jonathan Robert Cole Rongavilla (4th place), Cdt Mark Gifter Tarona Sucalit (5th place), Cdt Anabel Globo Davacol (8th place), Cdt Jeffrey Corsiga Latayada (9th place), and Cdt Grace Madrones Jamila.

Malacanang called anew today on the opposition and administration critics to discuss the issues of amending the Constitution intelligently instead of resorting to baseless accusations which it said "is all part of the poisoned political atmosphere that proponents of Charter change (cha-cha) seek to remove."

Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio R. Bunye is optimistic the continuing healthy and democratic discussion of the need to amend the Constitution will further raise awareness and knowledge of the Basic Law among the people.

"There is a growing clamor to implement Constitutional reforms to solve the gridlock that has prevented our government from pursuing basic reforms to improve the lives and build a better future for our people," he said in a statement.

Bunye was referring to published reports that more Filipinos are now favoring Charter change as per the latest Pulse Asia survey.

The survey, conducted between Feb. 18 and Mach 4 this year, showed the percentage of support increased to 43 percent compared to 29 percent for the same period last year.

Those who are not in favor, the survey said, decreased from 55 percent last year to 43 percent this month.

Bunye had earlier called on critics to "let the process roll on to its natural course."

"Our democratic system allows such a process to continue and to demean the exercise…only reflects insecurity on their part," he said.

Malacaņang said today the crackdown on smugglers and tax cheats will be waged without letup, as it lauded the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) for their continuing campaign against tax evasion and avoidance.

The BIR on Wednesday filed tax evasion charges before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against businessman Sammy Lee and his sister Thelma for allegedly under-reporting their company’s earnings in 2001 and 2002 by more than P70 million.

"We laud the continuing campaign of the Bureau of Customs and the Bureau of Internal Revenue against smugglers and tax cheats," Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said in a statement.

He added it was high time to "correct the decades-old notion that tax evasion and avoidance is a good business practice."

Bunye also cited businessmen who pay correct taxes on time, saying "they also help the economy grow further."

The Tokyo-based Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL), one of the biggest shipping companies in the world, will expand its facilities in Cavite to accommodate and train more Filipino cadets to become officers for its vessels.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was briefed on MOL’s training facilities expansion plan by the shipping firm’s president, Akimitsu Ashida, who called on her in Malacanang this afternoon.

The expansion program, which will cost an estimated P150 million, is designed to accommodate 450 Filipino marine cadets annually from the present 240, or almost double.

MOL is undertaking the project with its Filipino partner, Magsaysay Shipping Lines.

"MOL in partnership with Magsaysay (Shipping Lines) is expanding its training facilities at the Magsaysay Institute of Shipping in Dasmarinas, Cavite. The expansion will accommodate an expected increase in the number of cadets from 240 to 450 per year who will train to become officers on board our vessels," Ashida told the President.

Ashida said MOL operates more than 560 vessels and employs more than 4,000 Filipino seafarers.

He said their operation will expand to around 900 vessels in the next few years.

"MOL has contributed significantly to the earnings of Filipino seafarers whose total wages amount to $65 million a year," Ashida told the President.

Ashida also expressed his "deepest condolences" to the families of the victims of the Southern Leyte landslides.

MOL could extend only a token assistance to the victims of the tragedy, but the gesture was also a manifestation of the shipping firm’s commitment to the Philipines, Ashida said.

CAMP CASTANEDA, SILANG, Cavite – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered today Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno to set aside a portion of all police camps in the country for the housing project of Philippine National Police (PNP) employees.

The President issued the directive during the 27th commencement exercises of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) "Bagsay Lahi" Class 2006 here this morning.

In her speech, the President also tasked Vice President and Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) Chairman Noli de Castro to spearhead the implementation of the project for the police officers.

Aside from reserving portions of police camps as housing sites for policemen and their families, the President said prison wardens and guards, fire inspectors and fire officers will likewise be the beneficiaries of the 1,600 hectares housing project the government will build in San Miguel, Bulacan.

Under the project, 400 hectares will be allocated for the military, 400 hectares for the police, 400 hectares for the teachers, and 400 hectares for the rest of the government employees.

"So I hope that with this, you will have a secure and decent housing for your families and not like what many policemen have been suffering this past years, living in squatter areas, sometimes next door neighbors to the hatchet men of the syndicates. I hope that you will be able to do an even better job than I think you have already been doing these past years during my administration," the President said in her speech.

She explained that the government was able to finance this massive housing program only now because of the Reformed Value Added Tax (RVAT) law, the main resources of her administration in the major infrastructure and social services projects.

"Because we are now able to spend more money from our own resources as we have the taxes, we are catching up with the housing gap and also the employment gap that my administration inherited," she added.

The President likewise reminded PNP Chief Director General Arturo Lomibao that starting today (Wednesday), the PNP should be open for applicants for 3,000 jobs and the new graduates of the PNPA "Bagsay Lahi" Class 2006 will be the officers of these new recruits.

She added that she was very glad after hearing from the valedictory address of class valedictorian Benjamin Balais that Bagsay Lahi Class’s primary concern "is to stand by the nation and defend it at all cost" from criminals, terrorists, insurgents and destabilizers.

"I expect you to remain united towards a peaceful and progressive country," she said.

CAMP CASTANEDA, Silang, Cavite -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo warned policemen today to be wary of vested interests behind seemingly attractive promises of reforms, saying they only put to great risk the future of the nation.

In a speech during the 27^th commencement exercises of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) "Bagsay Lahi" Class 2006 here this morning, the President told the men in uniform to be conscious of the changing demands of the times and enhance their knowledge and skills to respond to various threats of national security such as terrorism and insurgency.

"We must all be equally adept at descending the democratic way of life with skill, courage and determination," she stressed.

The President reiterated what she pointed out in her speech at the Philippine Military Academy graduation last week that those who think that military or uniformed adventurism will be applauded and embraced by the people are wrong.

"The Filipino wants progress and not a rerun of the past. Everyone will pay the price of adventurism and it will be severe because it will impact on our economy and the livelihood of our people," she emphasized.

As she mentioned in the PMA exercises last week, she told the graduating policemen that the country cannot keep sweeping disloyalty under the rug.

She thanked the PNP members for their loyalty during the critical moments of last month's destabilization attempt against the government.