The Philippines was with the U.S. in the Second World War, in the Korean War, in the Vietnam War, and now in the war against terrorism.
— Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
I know the pain of having to deal with terrorism. And that's why, after 9-11, I was one of the first to join the international coalition to fight terrorism.
We have our own home-grown terrorism, and to the extent that we can obliterate terrorism all over the world, then our own terrorism will be much easier to neutralize.
The contracts for Iraqi rebuilding are commercial contracts. I think being in the coalition of the willing puts us in the radar screen, but we also have to compete with other countries that are in the coalition of the willing, but the Philippines is a country that has produced world-class skilled workers that we have seen all over the world.
I believe that the war against terrorism and the war against poverty in these times of turmoil go together. So you - when you fight one, you have to fight the other.
I will follow my father's footsteps by doing what is right, and God will take care of the rest. My father is my role model. My living role model is Cory Aquino.
Our political system needs changing. It needs to move away from personalities and patronage to a system of party programs and consultation with the people.
We've supported the U.S. every step of the way. The Philippines was the first government in Asia after September 11, in fact, the night of September 11; it was nighttime for us then. It was daytime here. We were the first government in Asia to come out and say that we're supporting the U.S.
It is the civilian part of the politics that is very, very bad, and we have to change that.
I can say that I have not done any culpable violation of the constitution.
I'm not worried. I'm in control.
Now I ask you to make your sacrifice. Take a gamble. I took the plunge and I'm glad of it.
I want justice to be so pervasive that it will be taken for granted, just as injustice is taken for granted today.
I was invited by President Bush to come to the United States on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the mutual defense treaty.
In my presidency I've been guided by what's right, not what's popular.
We look at the world and analyze the world, and see what we can do that is in line of our mutual interest and also in line with, you know, what the whole world needs, because this is a world where we really have to all work together.
The Philippines and the U.S. have had a strong relationship with each other for a very long time now. We have a shared history. We have shared values, democracy, freedom, and we have been in all the wars together in modern history, the World War, Second World War, Cold War, Vietnam, Korea, now the war on terrorism.
The Constitution says that troops can be in the Philippines if there's a treaty that provides for it, and we have two treaties with the United States.
The military is faithful to the constitution. They will come in only to protect the people from the enemies of the state.
In a global arena, what our businessmen need in order to be competitive is transparency and a level playing-field.
I am very grateful to our Muslim population. One of the things we've been doing is stepping up our inter-faith dialogue with the Muslim population. And I think that helped very much in their support for me.
The military is very constitutionalist, and I have my faith in them and in the cooler heads of the people.
While there's been much progress on terrorism, there's still much work to do and it is very important that the countries work together in order to address this threat together.
We have the hardest working people in the world, the most adaptable and the most congenial to employ.
In the time one is given, the steward must make the most of the talents one is given by the Lord.
I sow; my successor reaps. This is the majesty of democracy.
The Iraqi regime was supporting terrorist cells all over the world. We had to expel three Iraqi diplomats from the Philippines because of evidence that they were either in touch with Abu Sayyaf or doing their own espionage.
You have 60 countries in the world with a terrorist problem. That's two-thirds of the world. We have this group in Basilan, which is a small island in the far south of the Philippines, and the island itself has a population of - what? - 300,000.
I feel that if I am freed of the burden of politics, then I can do more and I can take more unpopular decisions. I can have as my guidance for decision whatever is right, not whatever is popular.
I follow my father's philosphy; 'Do what is good, do what is right, and God will take care of the rest.'
In 1995, we had evidence of the brother-in-law of Osama bin Laden being in the Philippines, living in the Philippines. We had evidence of front organizations set up in the Philippines. And we uncovered evidence about, which would help the U.S. with - about the perpetuators of the World Trade Center bombing.
Filipino businessmen must have the ability to compete freely in the global economy.
We must promote solid traits such as work ethics, a dignified lifestyle, matching actions to rhetoric, performance rather than grandstanding.
On the economy, the U.S. cumulatively is our most important investor, most important trading partner, most important sort of tourists, and we have now a tie that will... a link that will be here for many, many years to come, and that is the big Philippine-American community in the United States - three million of them.
In all the things I've gone through as a politician, I have seen that in this system it is really very difficult to make any headway without being somehow tainted. And let me say, 'Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.'
It is simply the truth that the political system that I am part of has degenerated to the point that it needs fundamental change.
The power of one, if fearless and focused, is formidable, but the power of many working together is better.
I want ordinary people to enjoy a decent standard of living, with ever increasing security, comfort and joy.
