Statement of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

Mga minamahal kong kababayan:

For the last several weeks, the issue of the tape recordings has spun out of control.

Tonight I want to set the record straight.

You deserve an explanation from me, because you are the people I was elected to serve.

As you recall, the election canvassing process was unnecessarily slow even after the election results were already in and the votes had been counted.

I was anxious to protect my votes and during that time had conversations with many people, including a Comelec official.

My intent was not to influence the outcome of the election, and it did not.

As I mentioned, the election had already been decided and the votes counted.

And as you remember, the outcome had been predicted by every major public opinion poll, and adjudged free, fair and decisive by international election observers, and our own Namfrel.

That said, let me tell you how I feel personally.

I recognize that making any such call was a lapse in judgment.

I am sorry.

I also regret taking so long to speak before you on this matter.

I take full responsibility for my actions and to you and to all those good citizens who may have had their faith shaken by these events.

I want to assure you that I have redoubled my efforts to serve the nation and earn your trust.

Nagagambala ako.

Maliwanag na may kakula­ngan sa wastong pagpapasya ang nangyaring pagtawag sa telepono.

Pinagsisisihan ko ito ng lubos.

Pinananagutan ko nang lubusan ang aking mga ginawa, at humi­hingi ako ng tawad sa inyo, sa lahat ng mga butihing mama­mayan na nabawasan ng tiwala dahil sa mga pangya­yaring ito.

Ibig kong tiyakin sa inyo na lalo pa akong magsisikap upang maglingkod sa bayan at matamo ang inyong tiwala.

I took office with a mandate to carry out a plan for the nation.

Since that time, I have focused on making the tough but necessary decisions to make up for years of economic neglect.

We passed a comprehensive, fiscally responsible national budget; raised new and necessary revenues to invest in the people; and implemented new anticorruption measures that have led to the highest collection of taxes in history.

Nothing should stand in the way of this work, or the next phase of my reform agenda, which includes new investments in education and social services with our new revenues, and an expansion of our successful anticorruption and lifestyle checks.

That is why I want to close this chapter and move on with the business of governing.

I ask every one of you to join hands with me in a show of unity, to help forge One Philippines, where everyone is equal under the law and [people have] the opportunity to use their God-given talents to make a better life.

Our nation is strong and getting stronger.

The progress is steady and I ask you to walk with me on this journey to rebuild our great nation.

I remain your humble servant and promise you that I will fulfill my constitutional oath of office to serve the people to the best of my ability.

God bless the Philippines.

==> Sa ganito lamang ba magtatapos ang lahat? Tila napakasimpleng katapusan sa isang masalimuot na pangyayari sa ating bayan. Marami pa ring tanong ang naiwang walang kasagutan.

Hindi sapat ang paghingi ng tawad. Dapat ay handa rin siyang tanggapin ang anumang consequence ng kanyang mga ginawa.

I never think of the future - it comes soon enough. - Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955)