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. - --- MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk