I am saddened by this untimely event and in behalf of the First Family and the Cabinet, I extend our deepest sympathy and share the grief of his entire family.

The memory of Rey Wycoco will live in the firmament of duty and service, for which we are grateful.

He was a brave and brilliant police officer who burned the midnight oil to achieve his mission, however difficult the challenges.

His family should be proud of him for he died with his boots on.

Malacanang is likely to approve the recommendation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for a unilateral 24-hour ceasefire with the New People’s Army (NPA) on Dec. 24 and Jan. 1, but President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has yet to decide on the matter, Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said in a radio interview this morning.

AFP spokesman Col. Tristan Kison was quoted in published reports as saying the military leadership has already submitted to Malacanang its recommendation for the 24-hour unilateral cessation of hostilities in the spirit of the Christmas and New Year holidays.

The AFP, however, left it to the President to pick the date to declare the proposed ceasefire.

"The military knows what the real situation in the field is and its recommendation on the proposed truce would most likely be adopted by the President," Bunye said.

Unlike in previous years, the government has been hesitant to declare a unilateral ceasefire this year because of the communist insurgents’ stepped up attacks on both military and civilian targets, particularly cell sites of mobile phone companies that refuse to cough up revolutionary taxes.

More than 12 soldiers have been killed in NPA landmine attacks in Mindanao and the Visayas in the last two months.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo expressed sadness today over the untimely death of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Reynaldo Wycoco who she described as a shining example of an officer and a gentleman.

"The memory of Rey Wycoco will live in the firmament of duty and service for which we are grateful," the President said in a statement.

"He was a brave and brilliant police officer who burned the midnight oil to achieve his mission, however difficult the challenges," the President said. "His family should be proud of him for he died with his boots on."

The Chief Executive extended her deepest sympathies to the family of the late NBI chief who died Monday night at the Manila Doctors Hospital after being comatose for more than three weeks.

Prior to his appointment as NBI director on Jan. 23, 2001, Wycoco had served as the PNP’s second in command as deputy director general.

Wycoco, 59, was the 17^th official to head the elite government investigation agency.

Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye described Wycoco as a professional who brought meaningful changes to the NBI.

"We just hope that the one who will replace him will continue his legacy," he said in a radio interview.

Hong Kong-based Presidential Adviser on Anti-Corruption Tony Kwok lauded today the progress made by the government in the campaign to curb corruption over the last two years.

In a press briefing this morning in Malacaņang, Kwok said he was impressed with the government’s determination to pursue the anti-corruption drive and the political will that sustains the effort.

"Today, I am pleased to see all these progress made on this anti-corruption drive. I am very impressed with the effort of this government in pursuing the fight against corruption. This is something that is very good for this country," he said.

Kwok cited the marked increase in the number of convictions won by the Office of the Ombudsman involving corruption cases that it prosecuted from 17 percent to 54 percent.

He added that the increase of the Ombudsman’s budget from P600 million to P900 million will greatly boost the capability and effectiveness of the anti-graft agency. The Ombudsman plans to hire 200 new lawyers next year.

Kwok said the number of erring senior officials, who were dismissed from the government service during the last two years as a result of the efforts of the Ombudsman, exceeds the total number of dismissals recorded by the agency over the previous 16 years.

"This is the kind of progress that has been achieved, and the kind of commitment the government is giving" to the anti-corruption campaign, he said.

"Given a concerted effort between the people and the government, given sufficient resources and a strong political will, corruption will be more or less controlled in three years’ time," Kwok said.

Hong Kong’s former anti-corruption czar expressed optimism that the Philippines will be able to replicate the success of the former crown colony’s anti-corruption drive. Hong Kong used to be one of the most corrupt countries in the world.

Kwok spearheaded Hong Kong’s 27-year war against corruption and won the battle through the Hong Kong Independent Commission (HKIC), which he organized in 1975.

After Kwok retired from the HKIC in 2002, he was invited by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to serve as her anti-corruption adviser.