It is simply the truth that the political system that I am part of has degenerated to the point that it needs fundamental change.

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.

It is the civilian part of the politics that is very, very bad, and we have to change that.

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.

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.

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.

The Philippines has no policy that demands sacrifice of human lives.