Pubdate: Tue, 23 Jul 2002
Source: Philippine Star (Philippines)
Copyright: PhilSTAR Daily Inc. 2002
Contact:  http://www.philstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/622
Author: Marichu Villanueva With reports from Jess Diaz, Aurea Calica, Jaime
Laude
Note: To read more about the Philippines latest anti-drug crusade visit
http://www.mapinc.org/areas/philippines .

I'LL BREAK BACK OF CRIMINALITY

In her second State of the Nation Address (SONA) yesterday, President Arroyo
read the riot act to all "enemies of the State" as she declared that
crushing all forms of terrorism and criminality would lay the foundations of
her "strong Republic."

"I am determined to build a strong Republic by breaking the back of
terrorism and criminality," the President said in her SONA delivered before
a joint session of the 12th Congress at the Batasang Pambansa complex in
Quezon City.

The President, said winning the war against poverty through job creation is
closely linked to the war against terrorism.

She also warned criminals they will be treated as direct national security
threats who will "feel the brunt of the arsenal of democracy."

Mrs. Arroyo told Congress that she was placing both the police and military
on "war footing" to combat crime, terrorism and the illegal drug trade. She
said there will be a budget reallocation this year to boost the country's
crime-fighting capabilities.

"Indeed, we are at war: at war with the terrorists, at war with kidnappers,
at war with the drug lords, and we are determined to win decisive victories
on all fronts," the Chief Executive said in her 55-minute address
interrupted 79 times by applause.

"We cannot afford not to win, even a stalemate will mean defeat. For what is
at stake is our country as a viable proposition in the world economy. And we
must be viable if we are to win the most fundamental war, the war against
poverty," she said.

"Criminal syndicates will be treated as what they are, direct threats to
national security. Criminals are criminals, whether of the common kind or
the kind that kills in the name of political advocacy. They will feel the
brunt of the arsenal of democracy," she said. "Freedom, too, is entitled to
self-defense."

The President recalled that her decision to ally the Philippines in the
US-led international coalition against terrorism had led Washington to
assist Manila in its fight against local terrorists and increased the
country's international visibility that resulted in more investments.

Mrs. Arroyo said she was the first head of government "to emphasize the
interconnection between the war against terrorism and the war against
poverty."

Assuming the role of anti-crime czarina, she said she will not allow the
terrorists and criminals to destroy the foundations of the "strong Republic"
that she is building. "Indeed, criminal gangs and homegrown terrorists have
exploited the poisoned political atmosphere to spread poisons of their own:
rampant smuggling, kidnapping, gambling, drug-dealing."

The President said, "The right to work in peace is as basic as the right to
life and liberty, and when both are in danger, their preservation by all
lawful means becomes not just a higher right but an overriding duty. That
duty I will discharge."

Mrs. Arroyo vowed to confront these problems by working closely with
congressional leaders and members via close consultation with the dormant
Legislative-Executive Development Council.

As if to emphasize the gravity of the country's crime situation, she said,
"And as with war in the past, so will it be with this war. As
commander-in-chief, I am taking a direct hand in the war against the enemies
of the Republic."

Aside from members of Congress, Cabinet members, senior police and military
officers, foreign diplomats were among those who listened to the President's
speech.

The President and First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo arrived at the Batasang
Pambansa complex at 3:30 p.m., 30 minutes before her 4 p.m. SONA. She was
welcomed by a congressional delegation led by Senate President Franklin
Drilon and Speaker Jose de Venecia and was immediately ushered into the
Presidential Legislative Liaison Office where she met with other lawmakers.

In her speech, Mrs. Arroyo underscored the role of Congress in ensuring the
success of her administration's total war against terrorism and criminality,
notably kidnap-for-ransom syndicates, smugglers, and drug groups. She called
on lawmakers to pass her proposed measures to combat terrorism and
criminality.

Anti-Terror Bill A Priority

Mrs. Arroyo said on top of her legislative agenda is the anti-terrorism
bill.

"I endorse to the collective wisdom of Congress, with a great sense of
urgency, a new bill that will strengthen our legal armory in this war: the
anti-terrorism bill. When passed into law, this bill will plug the loopholes
by which crimes spread and democracy is undermined under the protection of
laws," she said.

Pro-administration Sen. Robert Barbers filed a bill in January seeking to
categorize terrorist acts as heinous crimes and crimes against humanity
punishable by death. However, the bill seemed to have been sidelined by the
Senate impasse.

Barbers, in his bill, had sought the setting up of a special presidential
commission that would handle cases involving acts of local terrorism.

Recalling the "draconian interpretation" of command responsibility in the
relief of senior police officials who failed to wipe out illegal gambling,
she said their firing was a "dress rehearsal for enforcing command
responsibility in the more difficult challenges of smuggling, kidnapping and
drug-dealing."

Citing the military rescue of US missionary Gracia Burnham in June that led
to the killing of Abu Sayyaf spokesman Abu Sabaya, the President said, "This
is how I will do it with the criminal gangs."

She reiterated her order to Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., chief of
the Philippine National Police (PNP), to dismantle 21 kidnapping-for-ransom
syndicates within one year starting with the Bucala and Fajardo groups.

"I have given clear orders to spare nothing in hunting down kidnappers," she
said. "I have told the PNP that they must start with the cleansing of their
ranks. The rascals among them disgrace the uniform and paint in the same
broad brush the majority who do their duty well."

In the case of drug syndicates, the President informed Congress that she has
started to implement the new Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 which strengthened
the Dangerous Drugs Board and created the Philippine Drug Enforcement
Agency.

"With the drug menace now elevated to the level of a national security
problem, and no longer just a police problem," she instructed the Armed
Forces of the Philippines to field military resources for intelligence and
to field soldiers in drug raids to support civilian law enforcers.

"Drug lords will be treated as enemies of the State," she said.

The President reiterated orders to the Bureau of Customs to go after
big-time smugglers and that "white collar crimes" such as tax evasion must
be dealt with.

In this multi-tiered war, Mrs. Arroyo said she counts on the strong support
of highly professional, honorable and dedicated personnel of the PNP,
military, and other law enforcement agencies and help from Congress and the
judiciary.

"This is a war we will wage on behalf, and with the rage of all the victims
â€" those taken hostage and killed, those whose lives were snuffed out by
addiction, those whose small business were ruined by extortion, and those
held down in poverty by climate of fear. To them I say: We shall redeem your
pain and loss."

"At stake in this war is the very life of society, the life of our basic
rights and liberties, which have been under assault for too long," she said.

Mrs. Arroyo reminisced the legacy of her father, the late President Diosdado
Macapagal, whom she said had started building a "strong Republic." Mrs.
Arroyo pledged to finish the project that her father had started, to build
"stone by stone" if needed.

"Like my father, I am working on my stone. The stone of the strong Republic.
I intend to be well-remembered," she said.

During her speech, the President listed her accomplishments in the last 12
months, noting that she had exceeded her targets ranging from land reform to
housing, stabilizing prices of rice and other basic commodities, and reduced
electric cost via the lowering of the purchased power adjustment.

"We know where we are going and how to get there. We are planting the
milestones along the way to a strong Republic and a prosperous country," she
said.

The President said, "Today, I will lead you in building a strong Republic.
Have faith in me and join me."

GMA Priority Bills:

* anti-terrorism bill

* Special Purpose Vehicle Act to encourage asset management companies to put
back into productive circulation assets now tied up in problematic loans.

* A bill that gives overseas Filipino workers the right to vote, consistent
with the Constitution, with all the safeguards against cheating.

* A bill that will give equal respect and recognition to an overseas
Filipino' s dual citizenship consistent with national honor.

* Transmission Corp. franchise bill to make electric power sector more
efficient and competitive.

Drilon Vows Support To 'Strong Republic'

Drilon said the Senate will work closely with Mrs. Arroyo in fulfilling her
vision of a "strong Republic" through the speedy passage of bills that she
has declared vital in addressing terrorism and criminality.

Drilon said the resolution of the Senate impasse will lead to an early
action on the anti-terrorism bill, amendments to the Electric Power Industry
Reform Act, granting of franchise to the Transmission Corp., absentee voting
and dual citizenship measures.

Senate President Pro-Tempore Manuel Villar Jr. said although Mrs. Arroyo had
said she has achieved her targets, there is still much to be done because of
the still widespread poverty, rampant corruption and the deteriorating peace
and order situation.

"I am calling on my colleagues in the legislature, let us work together on
priority measures outlined by the President. Let us do our share in building
a strong Republic and not contribute in weakening it," Villar said.

De Venecia said the President's achievements on her promises are
"substantial."

"Her launching of a strong Republic is important if we are to overtake the
economic tigers of Southeast Asia. And her declaration of war on terrorism
and organized crime speaks well of her determination to restore greater
investors' confidence in the Philippines and to protect citizens from
lawless elements," he said.

"She will learn from those mistakes, and she can only get better as she
promised," said Rep. Wilfrido Villarama (Aksyon Demokratiko, Bulacan), while
Rep. Prospero Nograles (Lakas, Davao City) said the opposition should give
Mrs. Arroyo more time to deliver all her promises.

Chief Superintendent Jaime Caringal, head of the PNP anti-terrorist Task
Force Sanlahi, said the President has spoken and "we are more than happy to
know that we have her support in our ongoing drive to go after terrorist
groups, kidnappers, drug traffickers and bank robbers."

"The President's message ... is most appropriate if we have to meet the
challenges of a world operating under new rules for economic activities and
political reforms," Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro
Mendoza said.

Mendoza said his department will use all linkages with its clientele, land,
sea and air transport operators, communications facilities owners, drivers
as well as co-employees in the department and its attached agencies to
support the President's programs.

Mendoza promised his support to the President's campaign against smuggling.

Donald Dee, president of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines,
said Mrs. Arroyo's SONA was "a clear indication of her strong political
will."

"President Arroyo showed her administration's no-nonsense resolve to stamp
out criminality, especially kidnapping, terrorism and those related to
economic sabotage such as smuggling and graft and corruption," Dee said.
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