EASED IN METRO MANILA
MANILA, JANUARY
15,
2012 (STAR) By Aurea Calica and Delon
Porcalla - (PHOTO - President Aquino offers a toast to members of the
diplomatic corps represented by Papal Nuncio Archbishop Giuseppe Pinto during
the annual vin d' honneur at Malacañang yesterday. WILLY
PEREZ]
The Aquino administration has made "great strides" in its fight against
corruption, the President said, vowing to step up efforts to "hold accountable
those who seek to perpetuate the culture of impunity in our country."
President Aquino delivered his message before the diplomatic corps during the
traditional vin d' honneur at the Rizal Hall of Malacañang yesterday.
He also assured the international community that he would continue to work
hard to uplift the lives of the people through fair and honest practices in
government, especially now that Filipinos have "reawakened" and become
"reinvigorated."
"A little over a year ago, I stood in this very hall and laid down our goal
for 2011: to validate the optimism of our countrymen. Today, I tell you: there
is no aspect of our national life that has not felt the warmth of daylight over
the past year," Aquino said.
"Local and foreign groups have acknowledged our triumphs by investing in our
country, by lauding our efforts in open governance, and by supporting our
programs," he said.
"At the heart of our work for the next year lies a desire to secure for our
people a better standard of life, and a brighter future. And all of you present
here today are crucial to achieving that goal," Aquino said.
For this year, the President said he would further strengthen programs "that
work for our countrymen, such as those in education, health, housing, and others
like our conditional cash transfer program."
"We will continue to ensure the safety of our nation: by upgrading our
defense capabilities, and by working to achieve peace, while pursuing lawless
and criminal elements," Aquino said. "We will continue to sustain the growth of
our economy and create opportunities for employment."
The President admitted that carrying out the administration's programs is
fraught with challenges.
"But I am confident that so long as we stand together and remain consistent
in our service to the public, our countrymen will be behind us every step of the
way, as we work toward success," he said.
He proposed a toast "to the stability, prosperity, and security of a
reawakened and reinvigorated Philippines in the coming year, ready to keep its
place under the sun."
In his speech yesterday, Aquino notably veered away from his usual tirade
against the opposition, which he called a "noisy minority" in his speech last
year.
Lagman present, Corona absent
House Minority Leader Edcel Lagman was present in the vin d' honneur and
stayed, unlike in 2011 when he walked out upon hearing Aquino's tirade.
Lagman, who was smiling the whole time, was greeted by Cagayan de Oro Rep.
Rufus Rodriguez, who told him "welcome," to which Lagman replied: "Welcome to
the majority? Thanks but no thanks."
Lagman was said to have had a falling out with the minority's patron, former
President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, but the Palace stressed
it would be up to House leaders if he would be accepted as part of the majority
should he leave his current bloc.
Chief Justice Renato Corona, who is facing an impeachment trial beginning
Monday, was absent.
Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office
Secretary Ricky Carandang said Corona and the other justices were invited "as is
the protocol."
"But I understand why they did not attend, it's not an issue for us,"
Carandang said.
Associate Justices Estella Bernabe and Bienvenido Reyes – both Aquino
appointees – were in attendance.
Also present were Vice President Jejomar Binay, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte
Jr., Sen. Franklin Drilon, Sandiganbayan presiding Justice Francisco Villaruz,
former Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban, Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal,
Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, Armed Forces of
the Philippines chief of staff Lt. Gen. Jessie Dellosa, Philippine National
Police chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome, Army chief Maj. Gen. Emmanuel
Bautista, former President Fidel Ramos and Giuseppe Pinto, dean of the
diplomatic corps.
Some of the business personalities present were Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala,
Jaime Zobel de Ayala, Ramon Ang, Eugenio "Gabby" Lopez III, and Tessie Sy-Coson.
Commitment to peace
The diplomatic community, for its part, praised the Aquino administration for
its commitment to make peace with rebel groups.
The Apostolic Nuncio and dean of the diplomatic corps Giuseppe Pinto "noted
with approval" President Aquino's efforts to achieve peace with rebel groups.
"We support your resolve to carry on these processes, despite many continuing
challenges. A just and lasting settlement of domestic conflicts would indeed be
a worthy legacy of your administration," Pinto said.
Pinto also cited the administration's pursuit of social justice alongside
development. He also praised the Filipinos for their resilience in the face of
disasters.
"Being able to follow, firsthand, the unfolding of the most relevant events
in the life of the nation and the realization of politics oriented towards the
growth of the country – without neglecting the protection of nature, the
sustenance of families, the assistance to the poor, and giving job opportunities
to the young – is for us a reason for satisfaction because they reflect the
image of a country attentive, not only to statistical data and its inclusion in
the family of nations, but also to social justice that is compatible to
competitiveness and development," Pinto said.
"The Filipinos never yield to calamities. The tropical storm 'Sendong' has
taken the lives of thousands of citizens who lived and worked in the northern
coasts of Mindanao and the Visayas. It has left hundreds of thousands without
homes, schools, and means of living. The survivors, however, did not lose hope
and the courage to start again, to honor their dead and celebrate their faith,
to return and live with dignity, raising their voices and praises to where
culture, tradition, and creativity are interlacing," he said.
"Thank God, the assistance and the consolation brought to those people, first
and foremost" by Aquino, with the collaboration of local civil authorities and
the military, the religious institutions and the volunteer organizations, the
generous help of the international community, and the involvement of citizens
from all walks of life, "were never lacking," he said.
"Mr. President, the difficulties and aspirations of the Filipino people are
also our own. We share them, as resident diplomats in this extraordinary and
hospitable nation," he said.
"We assure you of our service, aware of the privilege granted to us by the
Giver of all goodness and by those whom we represent in this segment of the
Philippine history, which is of interest not only because of its challenges but
also for its opportunities," he added.
"To you, Mr. President, to the honorable secretary of the Department of
Foreign Affairs (Albert del Rosario) and his collaborators, whom we thank for
their valuable help in carrying out our mission, and those who share with you
the honor and responsibility of governing the Filipino nation, the diplomatic
corps expresses heartfelt best wishes for health and success," he said.
Security eased in MM By Cecille Suerte Felipe (The
Philippine Star) Updated January 14, 2012 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - Authorities lowered the alert status in Metro Manila
yesterday, days after Malacañang announced the presence of suspected terrorists
planning to attack the annual procession of the Black Nazarene last Monday.
Philippine National Police spokesman Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr.
said the PNP had downgraded the alert from full to heightened status in Metro
Manila.
The PNP has shifted its focus on securing the Senate at the start of the
impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona on Monday.
The military, for its part, said it would closely monitor the impeachment
trial and support the PNP in maintaining order should the need arise.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos
said the National Capital Region Command (NCRCom) would provide additional
security for the trial.
Burgos said the NCRCom's Civil Disturbance Management (CDM) is ready for
deployment upon request from its counterpart in the police, the National Capital
Regional Police Office (NCRPO).
"On Monday, we will monitor, and the AFP through the NCRCom is ready to
provide security augmentation and support if requested by the PNP," Burgos said.
Burgos refused to reveal the exact number of troops that would be committed
for deployment in the impeachment trial.
Cruz said the PNP would deploy some 500 uniformed policemen to secure the
Senate building on Monday.
The additional policemen would come from the PNP-Police Security and
Protection Group (PSPG) and the NCRPO.
Cruz added K-9 units, bomb disposal personnel and a Civil Disturbance
Management (CDM) contingent will be fielded as well as elements of the elite
Special Action Force (SAF).
Although the alert status was downgraded, Cruz was quick to clarify that
police operatives have further intensified efforts in tracking down the alleged
terrorists spotted in Metro Manila that planned the attack on the Black Nazarene
procession last Monday.
"Even if they go out of Metro Manila we will still pursue them," Cruz said.
"Tracker teams are continuously searching for suspected terrorists even as raids
in alleged safehouses yield negative and no arrests have been made at this
time."
Cruz said the rest of Luzon and Visayas is also on heightened alert while
Mindanao remains on full alert.
Cruz said PNP chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome allowed the police
regional offices to assess the security situation in their areas to increase or
downgrade the alert level.
Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo said the government has been trying to
improve security measures to ensure the safety of the general public, similar to
the measures taken during the Feast of the Black Nazarene.
Thousands of policemen, backed by hundreds of army troops, had secured the
five-kilometer procession route for the charred wooden Black Nazarene statue
from seaside Rizal Park to Quiapo Church last Monday.
Air Force helicopters stood by and cell phone service was blocked in
procession areas to prevent its use to trigger bombs. The procession ended after
22 hours.
The elaborate security measure was made after President Aquino revealed a
plot to attack the annual religious procession.
Aquino's warning sparked one of the most elaborate security deployments for
an event in Metro Manila in recent years.
With the simmering political situation ahead of the impeachment trial on
Monday, authorities are not taking chances.
Authorities have prepared security measures following announcements from
several groups to hold protest actions on Monday at the start of the impeachment
trial.
The groups also include supporters of Corona that are also expected to rally
at the Senate. – Jaime Laude
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
All
rights reserved
PHILIPPINE
HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE
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