The admission by a communist spokesman that they maintain contact with rightist conspirators only confirms what we have known all along. There is an unholy alliance between communists and rightists that threatens our democratic system. A leftist-rightist alliance will not benefit the people. Rather, it’s a pitiful attempt to put into power two groups with conflicting ideologies and have no love for democracy.

We renew our call on the legislature to pass as soon as possible the proposed Anti-Terrorism Law. The proposed law will clothe our law enforcement agencies with authority to deal decisively with terrorists that have no respect for human life.

The Philippines will again demonstrate its commitment and all-out support to the international campaign against terrorism with its hosting of the First Counter-Terrorism Experts’ Conference (CTEC) in Cebu next month.

The conference will be held on April 20-22 at the Shangri-La Mactan Island Resort and Spa in Mactan, Cebu, with the theme: "Defeating Dilemmas in Counter-Terrorism."

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo first announced the holding of the conference during the meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders with United States President George Bush on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Busan, South Korea in November 2005.

The Philippines is well-positioned to host the conference as it chairs the United Nations Security Council 1566 Counter-Terrorism Committee which monitors reports on all non-Al Qaeda and non-Taliban terrorist activities.

It also heads the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) counter-terrorism task force with its main task of coordinating the members’ implementation of the 2002 Leaders’ Statement on Fighting Terrorism and advances counter-terrorism assistance.

The country also assumed the chairmanship of the Standing Committee of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) which convened in March.

The conference’s key objective is to "extensively explore a realistic middle ground to counter-terrorism, a strategic policy response that is developmental in nature, takes into account sub-regional approaches, rationalizes capacity-building, addresses peculiar causes and conditions and allows developing countries to strike a balance between receiving counter-terrorism assistance and protecting their cultures and religions."

Such an objective augurs well with President Arroyo’s policy to promote tolerance and broader solution of conflicts through interfaith dialogue.

The President has also pursued a middle ground in the quest for a comprehensive, socially just and principled peace process in Mindanao.

Strategies in counter-terrorism that will complement current international efforts utilizing the perspective of countries that live with and take prime responsibility for dealing with the threat will also be extensively explored during the conference.

The output of the conference would establish the common counter-terrorism position of experts, specifically the "middle way," which would be called the "Mactan Concord."

Malacanang said today any unholy alliance between the communists and the rightists would surely fail as majority of the Filipino people are aware that they would not benefit from groups that have totally conflicting ideologies and no love for democracy.

Press Secretary and concurrent Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio R. Bunye said the people are tired of destabilization moves and violence that they have become discerning on what would improve their lives.

"A leftist-rightist alliance will not benefit the people. Rather, it’s a pitiful attempt to put into power two groups with conflicting ideologies and have no love for democracy," he said.

The Press Secretary also said the revelation of Jorge Madlos, a National Democratic Front (NDF) spokesman in Mindanao, confirmed what the government had unraveled last month when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared a weeklong state of national emergency.

"The admission by a communist spokesman that they maintain contact with rightist conspirators only confirms what we have known all along. There is an unholy alliance between communists and rightists that threatens our democratic system," Bunye said.

Madlos claimed that disgruntled junior military officers as well as some high-level officers were in contact with rebel leaders. He said that he was last in contact with a military officer this month.

The NDF is the political front of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed group, the New People’s Army (NPA) which marked its 37^th anniversary Wednesday.

Bunye also said that those who turned their backs on their sworn duty to protect the country, as well as those who are out to sow terror, would be dealt with accordingly.

"The right-left conspiracy to bring down the Government and the democratic system has failed and will never succeed because of nil popular support and a chain of command firmly entrenched within the Constitution. Military and civil justice will come down hard on traitors who are condemned by the great majority of the officers and soldiers," he stressed.

More than 20 military officers and men have been detained and face court martial while some opposition politicians and businessmen were charged with rebellion in connection with a coup plot last month involving communist rebels, military officers and certain politicians.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo led today the awarding of the top exporting companies in the country during the 11^th Investors’ Recognition Day of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) at the Hotel Philippine Plaza in Pasay City.

The President, who arrived at 11:30 a.m. at the Harbour Garden of the hotel, was assisted by Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila and PEZA Director General Lilia de Lima.

The Chief Executive handed out the Outstanding Exporter Award to four companies located in the special economic zones and industrial parks in Cavite and Laguna that accomplished outstanding performance in exports over a three-year period.

These are the Panasonic Communications Philippines Corp., Philips Semiconductors Philippines Inc., Rohm Electronics Philippines Inc., and Samsung Electronics Philippines Manufacturing Corp.

The President also handed out the Outstanding Employer Award to 10 locator companies that generated the most number of jobs, held high regard for their workers, and maintained harmony between labor and management.

These are the Client Logic Philippines Inc., Convergys Philippines Services Corp., Dole Philippines Inc., Epson Precision Philippines Inc., Lear Automotive Services, Lexmark International Philippines, Inc., Lufthansa Technik Philippines Inc., Nidec Precision Philippines Corp., Philips Semiconductors Philippines Inc., and Toshiba Information Equipment Philippines Inc.

Recipients of the Outstanding Community Project were the CS Garment Inc., Amkor Technology Philippines Inc., Dole Philippines Inc., Ford Motors Company Philippines Inc., Philippine Associated Smelting and Refining Corp., Philips Semiconductors Philippines Inc., Samsung Electronics Philippines Manufacturing Corp., TMX Philippines Inc., and Toshiba Information Equipment Philippines Inc.

The Outstanding Environmental Performers were Fairchild Semiconductor Philippines Inc., Ford Motors Company Philippines Inc., First Philippine Industrial Park Inc., Taiyo Yuden Philippines Inc., TI Philippines Inc., and Toshiba Information Equipment Philippines Inc.

The President also handed out the Hall of Fame Award to the Ionics EMS Inc. located at the Light Industry Science Park-Special Economic Zone in Cabuyao, Laguna for being awarded as Outstanding Employer for the years 2003 to 2005.

TAGAYTAY CITY -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo appealed today to investors who plan to put up businesses in Mindanao to begin pouring their investments now so that the "final mile to lasting peace in Mindanao is made more smoothly."

Keynoting the 2006 Philippines Development Forum (PDF) at the Taal Vista Lodge here, the President likened her vision of peace in Mindanao to a journey already at its last mile "when the destination is in sight but the winds of resistance are blowing most fiercely."

"Therefore, to help us through this last mile more smoothly, I want to make a personal appeal to all of you who plan to provide aid to Mindanao as peace dawns: Please consider providing your aid now even as we await the final signing of a final peace accord as several nations have already done under the Mindanao Trust Fund of the World Bank," she said.

The President pointed out that this "proactive gesture of generosity and confidence will put more air in our sails at a pivotal moment in our journey as we strive to reach the safe harbor of peace in Mindanao."

She stressed that with the help of the proponents of PDF, peace in Mindanao before the year ends is achievable.

The PDF is the primary mechanism of the Government for facilitating substantive policy dialogue among stakeholders on the country's development agenda.

It also serves as a process for developing consensus and generating commitments among different stakeholders toward critical actionable items of the Government's reform agenda.

The PDF evolved from the Consultative Group Meetings, held every 18 months or so among the Government and members of the international development partners community, which together comprise the Philippine Consultative Group (CG).

Malacanang renewed today its call on Congress to expedite the passage of the proposed Anti-Terrorism Law, as the country reels from two terrorist bombings in Mindanao that took place two days apart of each other this week.

Underscoring the urgency of immediate congressional action on the proposed measure, Press Secretary and concurrent Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said approval of the anti-terrorism bill would enable law enforcement agencies to deal more effectively with the terrorist menace.

"We renew our call on the legislature to pass as soon as possible the proposed Anti-Terrorism Law. The proposed law will clothe our law enforcement agencies with authority to deal decisively with terrorists that have no respect for human lives," Bunye said.

The Palace official dismissed as "unfounded" fears that the law would lead to abuses of human rights, saying lawmakers could properly address these concerns when they act on the bill.

Last night, an explosion ripped through a passenger bus at a terminal in Digos City in Davao del Norte, injuring 22 passengers and vendors. Luckily, no one was killed in the Digos City incident.

But earlier on Monday, an explosion blew up a cooperative store in downtown Jolo, Sulu killing nine people and injuring 20 others.

Both attacks were blamed on Abu Sayyaf terrorists.

Eleven civilians were also killed in New People’s Army (NPA) attacks in the last three months. The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

The CPP/NPA/National Democratic Front (NDF) has been tagged by the United States and the European Union as a terrorist organization.

TAGAYTAY CITY – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said today the signature campaign on the proposed constitutional amendments demonstrates the true power of the people in a democracy to change their system of government.

In her keynote speech at the 2006 Philippines Development Forum (PDF) here this morning, the President pressed her call for changes in the country’s charter to pave the way for a "government system that will hold our political leaders accountable to the people, or within the system the people will swiftly and legally throw them out of office."

"The true power of the people is being felt with the signature campaign to change our form of government," she said.

The President lamented the "petty politics" behind the opposition to charter change, saying instead of channeling their energies to helping move the nation forward, her critics are fighting to preserve their self-interests and sowing political intrigue.

"This is why charter change is so important: to help break the back of petty politics of the status quo that may put headlines in the paper but does nothing to put food on the table," she said.

She added: "The old-time politicians of the status quo better stand back because this train has left the station. It is time for politicians to step back or get run over."

The Chief Executive stressed that charter change would be beneficial for the people because once it is implemented the government would be more responsive to the needs of its constituents.

"The people want progress. They want action and they want it now," she said.

The PDF is gathering of officers from the World Bank (WB), Asian Development Bank (ADB), members of Congress, government officials, local government heads and other development partners.

TAGAYTAY CITY – The Department of Energy (DoE) allayed today fears of a possible massive power interruptions in Metro Manila, saying the Supreme Court order to shut down the Sucat-Araneta transmission line is not yet final and executory.

DoE Secretary Raphael Lotilla said during a lull in the proceedings of the 2006 Philippines Development Forum at the Taal Vista Lodge here that they would ask the Supreme Court to reconsider its decision.

"There will be no blackouts. We just want to assure our people that there will be no interruptions of power supply while the Supreme Court decision is being deliberated," said Lotilla.

The Supreme Court had earlier ruled in favor of residents of Dasmariņas Village in Makati City who petitioned the High Tribunal to relocate the 230-kilovolt transmission line, which traverses their village, fearing of health risks from radiation poisoning.

Lotilla said that his department is mulling the filing of a Motion for Reconsideration at the SC while the ruling is not yet final.

"In the meantime that their (SC) decision is not final and executory, we should not fear any interruption of power supply because there are contingencies that are in place," Lotilla added.

The National Transmission Corporation (Transco) earlier warned that half of Metro Manila may face the possibility of power outages for at least a year if the High Court orders the National Power Corporation to shut down the transmission line and relocate it.