Friday, February 24, 2006
Arroyo to traders: Ignore destabilization attempts
MANILA -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo told entrepreneurs Thursday to be optimistic despite the politicking and destabilization efforts against her government.
Even though key leaders of a planned power grab have been identified, Army chief Lieutenant General Hermogenes Esperon said a coup attempt is still possible, but any such move would be crushed.
Arroyo, in a speech at the summit of the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship in Taguig, said Filipino entrepreneurs are patriots because they give jobs that feed their countrymen and their families.
She said Filipinos are natural entrepreneurs just as they are natural musicians because they are inherently creative, persevering, and optimistic.
Arroyo said aside from Presidential adviser on entrepreneurship Jose Concepcion III, Jesus Christ also advocates optimism when he told his disciples to be optimistic.
She also recalled the slogan of former trade secretary Jose Concepcion Jr., which is "Yes, the Filipino Can."
Arroyo asked the Land Bank of the Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines to set aside P50 million to finance the needs of promising start-up businesses. She ordered her adviser on job generation to coordinate with the two banks.
She said a Bangko Sentral poll late last week found executives more bullish on their outlook for their companies. "That is optimistic, that is being not afraid," she added.
"Let us resolve to not let politicking or destabilization put down or destroy what we have here before us, the Filipino spirit of enterprise," Arroyo said.
According to Esperon Thursday, many details of a plot against Arroyo, which appears to be well-financed, have been uncovered. He said the military was strongly in control. (JMR/Sunnex/With AP)
(February 24, 2006 issue)
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'State of emergency' allows Arroyo to tap military