Major developments for May 6
Balita News Group
GMA lifts declaration of State of Rebellion
MANILA - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo lifted the declaration of State
of Rebellion over Metro Manila effective midnight last night The President
said that although the situation in Metro Manila has been placed under
controlled, there are still threats against the government. She also said
she respects the decision of the Supreme Court that certain individuals
were allowed to post bail but pointed that the power-grabbers are not yet
off the hook. Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo reiterated that her administration
continues to work for the upliftment of the poor masses.
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SMB takes Game 81-75
MANILA -- San Miguel Beer's taller and better shooting lineup in Fil-Am
Danny Seigle, Danny Ildefonso and pointguard Olsen Racela paid off as the
Beermen took Game One, 81-75, against Ginebra in their best-of-seven All
Filipino Conference finals series. SMB rushed to a 17-point lead at the
start of the second period, 27-10, while the Gin Kings were still groping
on how to neutralize the firepower of its sister team. For SMB coach Jong
Uichico, "It is always good to have an advantage -- a momentum to the
second game when you capture the first game. But we have no advantage over
Ginebra which has climbed from near the bottom to reach the finals. Our
weakness is their strength and our strength is their weakness. You can't
say one team has a big advantage over the other."
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GMA gets support for her handling of the May 1 attack on MalacaÑang
MANILA - Filipinos from all walks of life, including those working abroad,
have expressed support for the decision of President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo in declaring the state of rebellion following the violent
attempt of pro-Estrada supporters to seize MalacaÑang on May 1. These
expressions of support have been coming to MalacaÑang through fax, mailed
messages, e-mail, letters to the editors and published interviews. Earlier,
the President's decisive action following the failed power grab also
received the support of the U.S. Embassy and Manila Archbishop Jaime
Cardinal Sin. In a statement issued on May 1, the US Embassy said the
Constitution of the Philippines should be respected by all and that
violence has no place in a democracy. "The legitimacy of the
Macapagal-Arroyo government has been reaffirmed by the country's democratic
institutions, and we recognize this
legitimacy," the US embassy said.
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GMA continues to reach out to misguided elements in the May 1 attack on
MalacaÑang
MANILA - For the third straight day, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
reached out today to pro-Estrada supporters who were duped by selfish
politicians into joining the attack on Malacanang on May 1, Labor Day. This
afternoon, the President motored to the Jose Abad Santos Hall of Justice in
Camp Crame in Quezon City where 28 males and 18 females were detained after
they were arrested by the police for their role in the May 1 mass action.
On Thursday night, the President also visited some 68 pro-Estrada
supporters detained at the Western Police District. On Friday, it was the
police victims of the May 1 riot whom the President visited.
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OFWs expatriates commend GMA for declaring state of rebellion
MANILA - Many Filipino workers abroad including expatriates have been
flooding the office of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo with e-mails and
letters through facsimile saying the Chief Executive's decision is good for
the country if only to stop violence and lawlessness. They said it is high
time for the Philippine government to remain firm to restore peace and
order in the country. Philippine Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates
(UAE) Amable R. Aguiluz said in a statement sent to the President that the
reaction of the Filipino community towards the declaration of a state of
rebellion have been very positive. Lorna Bautista, in an interview with a
UAE newspaper said President Macapagal-Arroyo's decision to declare a state
of rebellion was right. She said, "Some people need to be given a hard
lesson."
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It's "fight -till- end" over Sayyafs
ZAMBOANGA CITY - "We will finish them off. This is final.", thus said Task
Force Comet spokesman Col. Jovenal Narcise over the Abu Sayyaf Group's
refusal to yield to the government after having given the chance to do so.
Fierce fighting continues in the jungles of this province. Col. Narcise
said despite of the atrocities they have done all these years the
government is still kind enough to accept those who want to surrender.
However, the fact that they are not keen to do so, "we will apply full
force of law over these terrorists." Withstanding a presidential order "to
annihilate them" (bandits), Task Force Comet is an operational arm of the
military assigned to launch offensives against the Abu Sayyaf to rescue
remaining captive Roland Ullah and to neutralize the terrorist group.
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Administration bares anti-poverty strategy for next 200 days
MANILA - The Macapagal-Arroyo Administration has outlined five core
strategies that will serve as the framework for its fight against poverty
in the next 200 days. This anti-poverty action plan, to be implemented with
the help of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) and civil society
groups, was crafted during workshops and consultations among the basic
sectors which culminated with their leaders' meeting with President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo last May 4. These five core strategies are asset reform;
full provision of human development services; participation of the poor in
governance and institution building; security and protection from violence
in order to fully exercise political, social and economic rights; and
increasing socio-economic opportunities for the poor and strengthening
capacities of marginalized sectors. Among the measures the government will
implement under the first core strategy -- asset reform -- are the issuance
of Certificates of Ancestral Domain or Ancestral Land Titles for the
benefit of the indigenous peoples (IP); the fast-tracking of the
implementation of the agrarian reform program in prime agricultural and
coconut lands for the farmers; the full implementation of the Fisheries and
Aquatic Resources Act to put the 15-kilometer from shoreline for priority
use by local fisher folk families; and the proclamation of portions of
public lands to socialized housing and provision of funding to local
government units for land banking as a strategy to stabilize land pricing.
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SC ruling on Enrile's arrest hailed
MANILA - Senate Minority Leader Renato Cayetano (Lakas) has hailed the
Supreme Court decision validating the declaration of a state of rebellion
and the warrantless arrests carried out by the Arroyo administration
against key opposition leaders linked to a plot to overthrow the
government. "Based on the high court ruling, it would seem that the
declaration of a state of rebellion was well-grounded from the start,"
Cayetano, chair of the Senate justice and human rights committee, said. "In
fact, the tribunal's decision to set interim bail of P100,000 for Senator
(Juan Ponce) Enrile merely gave legal force to his arrest without a
warrant," Cayetano pointed out.
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SPORTS: Tuason lauds tracksters in Thailand Open
MANILA -- Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Carlos D. Tuason
congratulated today the members of Team Philippines for their sterling
performance in the first day of hostilities in the 47th Thailand Amateur
Track and Field Open which opened Thursday in Bangkok. "The PSC is proud of
these athletes who trained hard and gave their best to give honors to the
country," Tuason said. "We also commend them not only to their exploits but
for improving on their personal bests," Tuason added. Tuason noted that the
Thailand Open saw the Philippines deliver a laudable performance despite
strong opposition from other countries. Twenty-nine nations participating
in the event had foreign coaches while Team Philippines has none. The
Philippines' John Lozada won the gold medal in the 1,500 meter run while
Roy Vence and Crisanto Canillo won the silver and bronze medal respectively
in the 10,000 meters. Jobert Delicano snatched the silver in the long jump
as Ernie Candelario won the bronze in the 400-meter distance run.
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Comelec says Misuari's call for Bangsamoro Republic will not affect
elections in ARRM
MANILA -- Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Alfredo Benipayo said
today the elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) will
proceed as scheduled on May 14 despite the "declaration" of Moro National
Liberation Front Chief Nur Misuari of an independent Bangsamoro Republic.
In an interview, Benipayo said Misuari's recent call seeking for Bangsamoro
Republic will not affect the elections in the four existing ARRM provinces
-- Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. "The elections there
will be the same as in any part of the country. Residents will have to vote
for their local and national candidates. After all, the election there is
not to select ARMM officials. That will be in September. So, walang epekto
yan," Benipayo said.
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Comelec to activate AFP reservists and ROTC cadets
MANILA -- Noting an increase in the number of critical areas or the
so-called "election hot spots," Commission on Elections Chairman Alfredo
Benipayo agreed today to activate about 3,000 Armed Forces of the
Philippines (AFP) reservists and ROTC cadets to help maintain peace and
order situation in the May 14 national and local elections. Benipayo,
however, stressed that these ROTC cadets will only be fielded in Metro
Manila and will not be sent in Mindanao or in any critical areas. "I don't
want to put them (cadets) in unnecessary danger. Kaya, 'yong ating mga
sundalo, ide-declare natin doon sa mga areas na hot spots," Benipayo said.