The military is faithful to the constitution. They will come in only to protect the people from the enemies of the state.

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.

Its never right to fight terror with terror.

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

Before September 11, we were fighting terrorism in our southwestern Philippines, and it was a lonely fight. However, we were able to contain it now in one island in that part of the Philippines. But after September 11, and after the creation of the global coalition against terrorism, now we have allies, and I believe now it will easier with allies.

Filipino businessmen must have the ability to compete freely in the global economy.