PGMA's Statement on our Preparedness re the Iraq Situation |
State Dining Room, Malacanang (18 Mar 2003) |
UP TO THIS TIME, PEACE REMAINS THE BEST OPTION. WE KEEP OUR HOPES HIGH THAT THE PRECARIOUS SITUATION CAN BE RESOLVED BY A CONSENSUS OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY; AND I PRAY THAT SADDAM HUSSEIN WILL TAKE ALL STEPS TO AVERT WAR AND PAVE THE WAY FOR A PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF THE CONFLICT. WHILE THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD ARE SORTING OUT THE PRESENT CRISIS, WE MUST JOIN HANDS IN WORKING FOR THE STABILITY AND WELL-BEING OF OUR NATION. WE ARE PREPARED. WE'VE BEEN PREPARING FOR A LONG TIME. I'M MEETING WITH THE CABINET THIS MORNING. WE FIRMED UP THE SECURITY, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SOCIOECONOMIC CONTINGENCY MEASURES TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC INTEREST. MOST OF THESE ARE ALREADY ON STREAM. WE HAVE MORE THAN ENOUGH OIL, RICE AND ESSENTIAL PUBLIC NEEDS. WE HAVE MOBILIZED THE WHOLE GOVERNMENT MACHINERY, INCLUDING THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, THE AFP AND THE PNP. I CALL ON THE PRIVATE SECTOR, CIVIL SOCIETY, AND INDEED ALL OUR CITIZENS TO COOPERATE AND COORDINATE WITH THEM IN SAFEGUARDING OUR COMMUNITIES. WE MUST BE PROACTIVE AGAINST COLLATERAL TERRORIST ATTACKS. I WILL MEET THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL THIS AFTERNOON TO FIRM UP OUR POLITICAL CONSENSUS TO MEET A POSSIBLE OUTBREAK OF HOSTILITIES. WHILE WE DON'T SEE A SERIOUS THREAT TO OUR OVERSEAS WORKERS, I HAVE DIRECTED THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO TAKE THE NECESSARY MEASURES TOGETHER WITH THE MIDDLE EAST PREPAREDNESS TEAM TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF OUR NATIONALS AND AT THE SAME TIME, PRESERVE DIPLOMATIC NORMALCY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. I'M ASSURING ALL FILIPINO FAMILIES AND THEIR LOVED ONES THAT YOUR GOVERNMENT WILL TAKE CARE OF OUR OVERSEAS FILIPINOS. TO OUR COUNTRYMEN IN THE MIDDLE EAST, KEEP IN TOUCH WITH OUR EMBASSIES; THEY ARE THERE TO HELP YOU AND PROVIDE YOU THE INFORMATION YOU NEED. LET'S BE CALM BUT VIGILANT AND ALERT. EVERY FILIPINO MUST BE RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS OR HER FELLOW HUMAN BEING. SETTING ASIDE PARTISANSHIP, LET'S FOCUS OUR HEARTS AND ENERGIES TO THE TASK AT HAND. TOGETHER AND UNITED, WE SHALL OVERCOME THIS CRISIS. THANK YOU. |