10.3 billion under the 2006 budget bill for the salary increase of the 1.1 million-strong state workers.
Although the Chief Executive urged Congress last week to work on a legislated wage increase for the private sector, the matter was not mentioned by Secretary Bunye as among those being pushed by the administration.
Bunye said the government expects additional revenues from the expanded value added tax (VAT) to help fund an increase in its spending on infrastructure and other projects and reduction of budget deficit.
On the security front, Bunye said the government needs a tough bill outlawing all forms of terrorism to effectively arrest and prosecute terrorists hiding in the country.
The President earlier said Manila must establish a strong legal arsenal against the transnational crime of terrorism in line with its commitment to the United Nations.
Malacañang has expressed concern that the ongoing political turmoil might derail the government’s legislative agenda. It repeatedly called on Congress to set aside political bickerings and focus on its lawmaking duties.
Divisions in the ruling coalition emerged last July after the President’s key allies, including Senate President Franklin Drilon, demanded her resignation on election fraud charges.
But House Speaker Jose de Venecia, who remains a steadfast ally of the President, has assured that the appropriations bill would likely be enacted next month.
Muslim official allays fears about anti-terrorism bill
By EDD K. USMAN
As President Arroyo renewed her call for the passage of the anti-terrorism bill, Rep. Simeon Datumanong yesterday assured Muslims that there is nothing to fear.
The President reiterated her call for the enactment of the bill during the grand "Iftar for Peace and Forgiveness" hosted by the Libyan Embassy and the World Islamic Call Society Saturday evening in Pasay City.
Muslim fears are grounded on previous raids conducted by the military and police on Islamic communities, often with accompanying warrantless searches and arrests.
Waldy Carbonell, now a Muslim hadji, had denounced the arrest of Muslims, particularly those belonging to the Balik-Islam (Christians who converted to Islam) group who are being linked to terrorist activities.
Other Muslims said those arrests bolster fears among Muslims that they could be the real targets of the measure that Malacañang is strongly supporting.
Datumanong, chairman of the Hosue committee on justice, defended the bill, as he allayed the fears of his fellow Muslims, saying there is no provision in House Bill No. 4839 that makes them a particular target. Datumanong was reacting to the impression that even if there’s no antiterrorism law yet, Muslims are already being subjected to harassment, illegal searches, arrests and imprisonment every time there is a threat or act of terrorism.
Lanao del Sur Rep. Benasing Macarambon Jr. said the bill’s definition is tailor-made to suit Muslims.
Datumanong disagreed. "The anti-terrorism bill is not calculated against Muslims, or members of other religions. It is calculated against terrorists to protect the people. If a terrorist happens to be one of us, then we cannot do anything," said the Maguindanao lawmaker.
"It is not specifically addressed to Islam, Christianity, Buddhism or other faiths. If HB No. 4839 is anti-religion, then all of us will not support it. I will not be supporting anything that curtails one’s religious freedom," said Datumanong, a staunch ally of President Arroyo.
The truth, he said, is that in the bill’s provisions (Sections 4 and 5), agents of the state can be accused of terrorism and the penalty for the military and the police and other government agents is more severe, in some aspects, than private persons.
But state terrorism, which Datumanong conceded can occur, is not addressed by the present bill, saying state terrorism needs another bill.
