Statement of Secretary R. Bunye, 29 NOVEMBER 2007
• Gov't on top of situation -- Malacañang
• PGMA lauds Region lV-A peace assembly; says gov't is winning war vs. CALABARZON-based rebels
• PGMA: Gov't determined to root out corruption
• Statement of the President: On the Manila Peninsula Standoff
• Malacañang calls Makati City incident 'merely a situation'
• U.S. gov't reiterates support for rule of law in RP
• Palace imposes 12 midnight to 5 A.M. curfew
• President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's Statement on the Makati Standoff
• Statement of Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye
Gov't on top of situation -- Malacañang
Malacanang assured the public today that the government is on top of the situation and the new attempt to overthrow the government by Magdalo rebel soldiers in Makati City will be dealt with firmly but peacefully.
Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye also told a press briefing that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo remains “very cool and calm” as she fired off several directives to government agencies during the emergency Cabinet meeting in Malacanang this afternoon.
The Chief Executive was visiting Laguna to preside over a local peace and security assembly in Region IV-A at the Villa Escudero Resort in San Pablo City when she was informed of the new anti-government movement launched by the detained members of the Magdalo group.
Finance Secretary Margarito Teves, meanwhile, said that the latest politico-military adventurism in Makati City will have a temporary effect on the market but will definitely not affect the economy.
Teves based his statement on the assessment of National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) acting Director General Augusto Santos who reported that the economy is not only stable but “still growing.”
The Finance secretary pointed out that the country’s economic fundamentals are robust as shown by the 42.80 percent economic growth in the third quarter, while the peso remains strong.
Teves added that led by the services sector, the economy grew by 6.6 percent in real terms in the third quarter from a year earlier and is expected to exceed the full-year target.
“Sa palagay ko kapag ganitong klase ang fundamentals, we are able to handle this kind of temporary disturbance sa ating ekonomiya,” Teves said during a press briefing at the New Executive Building with some Cabinet members, top leaders of the House of Representatives, and other government officials.
Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila also reported that the market reacted to the Makati City disturbance but recovered swiftly before it closed this afternoon.
He added that Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said the market remains calm as shown by its immediate recovery this afternoon from a brief trading lull in the morning.
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza told the Cabinet that Mindanaoenos are fully behind the President and they condemn the new attempt by the Magdalo rebels led by Sen. Antonio Trillanes to create a political-military standoff.
He said he believed that the new disturbance in Makati City will end peacefully because the government will not allow the situation to escalate and cause further harm to the economy.
“If Mindanao people are able to resolve their problems peacefully, I’m sure a small event like this will end peacefully,” Dureza told reporters.
The tension in Makati was sparked by Trillanes, former Gen. Danilo Lim and other Magdalo officers accused of leading the July 2003 rebellion when they walked out of their trial Thursday morning at the Makati City Regional Trial Court.
From the RTC grounds, they marched through the streets of the financial district calling for the ouster of President Arroyo.
Trillanes and his comrades numbering around 30 armed guards smashed the door of The Manila Peninsula along Makati Avenue and Paseo de Rojas Street after they overwhelmed the hotel’s security guards.
They then read out a statement demanding the resignation of President Arroyo.
PGMA lauds Region lV-A peace assembly; says gov't is winning war vs. CALABARZON-based rebels
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo congratulated today the leaders and participants of the Region IV-A Local Peace and Security Assembly (LPSA)– the first to be held in Luzon – as she enthused that the government is winning the fight against Southern Tagalog-based rebels.
The President voiced this observation when she graced the closing of the two-day LPSA for Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon (CALABARZON) that was held at the Villa Escudero straddling Tiaong, Quezon and San Pablo City, Laguna.
“Medyo nagwagi na tayo dito sa Quezon na pinakakuta ng mga pinaka-mabagsik na rebelde,” said the President, noting that “matagal na nating ‘di narinig (ang kanilang spokesman),” apparently referring to New People’s Army (NPA) Spokesman “Ka Roger Rosal.”
The President told the assemblage that “tuloy-tuloy and laban sa mga rebelde,” and expressed hope for the government to finally solve the long-running insurgency “sa lalong madaling panahon.”
The Chief Executive -- who has set 2010 as her administration’s self-imposed deadline to wipe out insurgency – described communism as a “bigong idelohiya (failed ideology)” being perpetrated by those who are “kapit-tuko sa komunismo.”
President Arroyo reiterated her administration’s standing amnesty offer and “bukas-palad” (open-arm) welcome for rebel returnees whom she assured of “hanapbuhay and hustisya sosyal (livelihood and social justice).”
The President credited the country’s soldiers, among others, for the decline in insurgency, relating that a recent assembly in Borongan, Samar had a newly assigned bishop relating what he had heard from his parishioners – “mababait daw ang mga sundalo kaya humina ng husto ang insurgency (the soldiers’ friendliness led to the sharp decline of insurgency in the area).”
The President also enthused about the experience of the Surigao provinces – “pinakakuta rin ng mga rebelde (at) mababagsik din dun ang mga rebelde…” She said a military commander reported during an LPSA held there that people in the hinterlands – who have not been reached by their local governments – look up to military men and women as the very representatives of government:
“Umaabot ang mga sundalo sa mga liblib na lugar. Doon, ang mukha ng pamahalaan ay ang mga sundalo. Sa kanila ipinapaabot ang kanilang mga hinaing – wala silang gamot…”
“Kaya ngayon, meron na tayong programa para sa malalayong lugar,” said the President even as she expressed her surprise at the no-medicines plaint, stressing that the government has a program supposedly providing medicines to the countryside, even to far-flung hinterlands.
PGMA: Gov't determined to root out corruption
Refuting charges by her detractors that her administration is soft on corruption, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said today that she is determined to root out corruption, even as she asserted that political killings is not a policy of government.
“We aim to stamp out corruption. Zap it out, it must be stamped out,” she told the first Local Peace and Security Assembly (LPSA) in Region IV-A held at the Villa Escudero Resort in San Pablo City, Laguna this morning.
“Hindi natin patakaran ang political killings,” the President said, adding that in line with the the government’s willingness to face up to the problem of political killings, the Philippines opened its doors to a United Nations rapporteur on human rights unlike 10 other countries that refuse entry to rapporteurs of the world body.
“Nauna pa tayo sa Myanmar (in allowing a UN rapporteur into the country),” she said.
The President stressed that “bukas tayo sa pagsubaybay… at sa pagbibigay ng data…” as she rued the absence from the assembly of Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Avelino Razon, Task Force “Usig” head who, she said, could provide them with data on the number of rogue cops and soldiers “na mga na-preso, na-prosecute, at na-convict (who have been jailed, are being prosecuted, and who have been convicted).”
“But we cannot be simplistic… We cannot conduct witchhunts,” she pointed out.
Working around the theme -- “Peace and Security: Our Shared Responsibility” – the LPSA of the South Luzon mainland submitted a resolution to the President recommending for “serious consideration of concerned branches of the national government” the following:
• Uphold basic human rights and social justice to all.
• Enact measures that will address empowerment, patriotism and love of God and country, non-violent resolution of conflicts, holistic education for peace and development;
• Facilitate the completion and improvement of major transport land routes, including farm-to-market roads, ports, railways, and digital infrastructure projects that would link the various areas of CALABARZON, both domestically and internationally.
• Ensure that development programs and projects involve the full participation of all, and that releases of project funds are expedited directly to end-users for timely implementation of such programs and projects.
• Promote pro-active tourism; and fast-track the development of tourism areas as specified in Philippine Tourism Master Plan 1991-2010.
• Enhance and upgrade the capabilities of key state institutions in charge of development, peace-building and security; and
• Adopt measures that will enable the Philippines to effectively honor its commitments as a member of the Community of Nations, particularly in the area of human rights and humanitarian law.
Statement of the President: On the Manila Peninsula Standoff
Mga kababayan, nagpupugay tayo sa mga alagad ng batas, katulong ang mga kawal ng Sandatahang Lakas, sa mabisa at mabilis na pagresolba sa ligalig sa Makati. Ating iniutos na pawiin ang anumang mga bantang nalalabi upang mapa-iral nang lubusan ang batas at kaayusan.
Dapat walang duda sa pag-iral ng batas sa bansang ito, at sa kakayahan ng Pamahalaan na ipatupad ang tama laban sa mali.
Ang mali at ligaw na gawain ng iilan ay hindi nangungusap para sa taong bayan o sa hukbo at kapulisan. Gaya nang dati, ipapataw sa kanila ang buong tindi ng katarungan nang buong higpit at walang palugit.
Itutuloy ang paglilitis ng mga rebeldend sundalo hanggang sa wakas alinsunod sa batas. Ayon sa nararapat, maghahanda ng karagdagang mga asunto upang papanagutin ang mga gumawa ng bagong krimen.
Walang patid ang linya ng panunungkulan ng Sandatahang Lakas; at patuloy ang ating mga kawal at pulis sa kanilang makabayani at mapagmalasakit na paglilingkod sa buong bansa. Nananalig tayo sa mga naka-uniporme sa kanilang pagtataguyod ng lehitimong awtoridad at mahal na watawat.
Nananawagan tayo sa lahat na talikdan na itong sandaling ligalig at balikan ang gawain ng taumbayan. Hindi dapat matigil kahit sandali ang ating pakikibaka laban sa kahirapan at para sa katarungan.
Paulit-ulit nating ipinamalas sa mundo ang katatagan ng mga institusyon ng ating demokrasya at ang kalakasan nitong pamahalaan. Saligan ng ating matatag na republika ang malakas na ekonomiya na buong itinataguyod ng sambayanang Pilipino.
Malacañang calls Makati City incident 'merely a situation'
Presidential Spokesperson and Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye belittled today the Makati City incident as “merely a situation.”
Before Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, former Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim and the Magdalo rebel soldiers surrendered tonight to authorities, Malacanang called on the public to remain calm as the situation in Makati City was very much under control.
Secretary Bunye said that the incident in Makati where the group locked themselves up in the second floor suite of the Manila Peninsula Hotel had meticulously been monitored by the elements of the military and the police and that the area had already been cordoned.
Bunye appealed to the people who had no business at all in the area to leave the premises and avoid the Makati and Ayala avenues in order not to hamper the operations of the authorities.
“The situation is very much under control and we would like to assure our people that the rule of law will be enforced strictly. We appeal to the public to be calm, and stay away from the area to avoid any possible confusion dahil mahigpit po ang kautusan na ipatupad po itong ating mga batas,” he said.
He said that the firm response of the state is to maintain peace and order to prevent any confusion, avoid anymore destruction of public property and to amicably settle the situation.
He also called on the members of the media not to cross the yellow line in the critical area in order to avoid casualties and to have the military and the police the leeway to operate.
“To all our media friends: please comply with the request of the police to immediately vacate Manila Peninsula in order to prevent/reduce unnecessary collateral damage. Stay outside the yellow police line,” Bunye said.
He said the mandate of the military and police is to enforce the law in accordance with the implementing guidelines of the law.
He anticipated that the Makati situation would end up peacefully as he stressed that there are internal guidelines the authorities had to observe.
He said that despite the Makati incident, the projected European trip of the President would still push through.
He noted that even some senators had already made their own statement batting for the implementation of the rule of law.
He expressed the belief that Makati local officials at this point in time had no accountability but were expected to enforce the law.
He said the Armed Forces of the Philippines has always been behind the Arroyo administration and ”we are very confident of the unwavering support. As a matter of fact we were in touch with the different commands who expressed their support to the chain of command, to their Commander-in-Chief.”
He described the President as a hands-on leader who immediately convened an emergency Cabinet meeting after learning of the Makati incident.
“She started issuing orders to different parties concerned. Ito naman ay base sa mga naging karanasan. The President appeared very cool, very calm as she issued her directives,” he said.
He considered the incident as merely a “situation” but reiterated that the government is on top of the situation.
Bunye added that the government’s primary concern was to contain the situation. He expressed the belief that the situation would be put under control as soon as possible and reminded those who have locked themselves up in the hotel to pay for their hotel bills before they leave the premises.
Several leaders like Laguna Gov. Teresita Lazaro, Mandaluyong City Mayor Benhur Abalos, president of the Leagues of Cities of the Philippines; Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo and Deputy House Speaker Amelita Villarosa, have expressed their support and confidence in the President and condemned the Makati situation as violation of the Constitution of the Philippines.
U.S. gov't reiterates support for rule of law in RP
The United States government reiterated its “support for the rule of law and constitutional order” in the Philippines even before the new attempt by a group of Magdalo rebel soldiers to overthrow the government was resolved peacefully tonight by the authorities.
The US Embassy in Manila, in a statement it issued at about 4 p.m. today, said:
“The United States and the Philippines are long time democratic allies, and the US Embassy wishes to take this opportunity to reiterate our government’s support for the rule of law, constitutional order and the government of the Philippines.
“Ambassador Kenney has spoken with officials at Malacanang Palace to reiterate our confidence that this incident will be swiftly and peacefully resolved by the Philippine National Police, supported by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, in accordance with Philippine law.”
Palace imposes 12 midnight to 5 A.M. curfew
Malacanang announced tonight that law enforcement agencies will impose a curfew effective 12 midnight up to 5 a.m. tomorrow, Friday in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Region 4-A otherwise known as CALABARZON.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered the imposition of the curfew an hour after the six-hour standoff in Makati’s five-star Manila Peninsula hotel ended peacefully.
Puno said Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Avelino Razon will announce the details of the curfew, adding that checkpoints will be set up in relation to this directive.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's Statement on the Makati Standoff
I commend the law enforcement authorities supported by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) elements for resolving the Makati standoff with efficiency and dispatch. I direct that all residual threats, if any, be mopped up to fully restore law and order.
There should be no doubt about the rule of law in this country, and the capability of government to enforce right over wrong.
The isolated, wrongful acts of a few speak neither of the people’s sentiments nor those in the uniformed services. They shall be dealt with firmly and uncompromisingly as in the past.
The trial of all mutinous soldiers shall be pursued to their logical end. Additional charges, as appropriate, shall be prepared to let those responsible account for their criminal act. The AFP chain of command is undiminished; and our soldiers and police continue their heroic and compassionate service throughout the country. I bear faith in the uniform to uphold legitimate governance and the flag.
To one and all, let us leave this short charade behind and get on with the business of the people. Our fight against poverty and justice must be uninterrupted.
Time and again, we have shown the world the stability of our democratic institutions and the strength of this government. Our strong republic is underlined by a strong economy that has the full support of the Filipino people.
Statement of Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye
We have repeatedly issued the following appeal to the media prior to the start of the operations:
“To all our media friends, please comply with the request of the police to immediately vacate Manila Peninsula in order to prevent/reduce unnecessary collateral damage. Stay outside the yellow police line. Thank you.”
As standard operating procedure, all those who are in the scene of the crime are to be accounted for, for purposes of determining if a crime has been committed and the degree of their culpability.
In addition, the police had to prevent the group of Trillanes from mixing with the media and thereby escaping.
The President has instructed PNP Chief Avelino Razon to expedite the processing of members of media and cause their immediate release as soon as circumstances warrant.