The President made the call as she joined the nation in observing the 20th death anniversary of Senator Benigno Aquino Jr., whose martyrdom inspired a peaceful popular uprising that ended the 20-year rule of President Ferdinand Marcos in the country.

"It is high time for our nation to break away from excessive preoccupation with politics and to consolidate our energies towards the indispensable tasks of public order and development," Arroyo said in a press statement.

"Partisan politics is aggravating the already steep difficulties of our people. I ask them to resist being distracted away from the focus on poverty, terrorism, crime and corruption - to which the government is devoting its undivided attention," she said.

The Arroyo administration blamed excessive partisan politics for the latest attacks on the President's husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo, who has been accused of laundering some P270 million in campaign funds of the administration party.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson, a staunch critic of the Arroyo administration, had charged that accounts in the millions of pesos were in the names of "Jose Pidal," who, he said, was Arroyo, and several other persons, including the First Gentleman's personal secretary and accountant.

The government has also blamed some opposition leaders for the July 27 failed coup by some young officers and men who demanded the resignation of the President, Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes, and some military and police officials.

"We must strengthen the ramparts of political stability that were shattered by the Oakwood incident through the instruments of justice and reform," the President said.

The government has charged before a civilian civilia and a special court martial the rebel military officers and soldiers who stationed themselves at the Oakwood Hotel on July 27.

It is also running after the alleged mastermind, presidential aspirant Senator Gregorio B. Honasan, and other suspected benefactors and financiers of the July 27 mutiny.

The President called on the public to rally behind the government to help rebuild the country's battered economy and stabilize the socio-political situation.

"Confidence in the economy has to be sustained through an effort on the part of each and every Filipino to productively contribute to the fundamental tasks of nation building. Enough of the politics of ruin and stagnation," she said.President Macapagal Arroyo yesterday said she draws inspiration from the first People Power president, former President Corazon Aquino, on how to hurdle the nation's problems, including surviving the recent coup attempt.

The President said she considers Aquino, the wife of the slain senator Benigno Aquino Jr. and who had survived several coup attempts during her term, her role model mainly for her experiences as the first female President of the country.

Arroyo, wearing a yellow shirt, joined the Aquino family in the commemoration of the 20th death anniversary of the senator at the Manila Memorial Park.

The President, Mrs. Aquino and the latler's successor Fidel Ramos later attended a confetti tribute and a gathering in Makati City.

Following the mass at the tomb of Aquino, Arroyo and Aquino sat for a live interview over ABS-CBN 2's "Morning Girls" with Korina Sanchez and Kris Aquino.

In the face of challenging problems apparently including the short-lived July 27 rebellion, Arroyo admitted she emulates Aquino's strong faith in God when she faced the same predicament.

Both female leaders are devout Catholics.

Arroyo said she remembers Aquino's advice to do what is right and put trust in the Lord. "I derive my inspiration from that," she said.

The two female leaders also asserted they were proven stronger than their male predecessors, who were both ousted by popular revolts due to corruption.

Aquino said she remained in office despite seven failed coup attempts against her administration.

"Hindi naming sinasabi na mas magaling kami pero siguro kasing-galing man lamang ano at mas malaki ang aming pananampalataya," the former president said in the interview.

In Makati City

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Makati City Mayor Jejomar C. Binay yesterday led some 2,000 to 3,000 marchers in a "salubungan" (meeting) at Ayala Ave. marking the 20th death anniversary of former Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino.

The meeting was held in front of the Ninoy Aquino statue on Paseo de Roxas and Ayala Ave. in the heart of the city's central business district.

It was preceded by separate marches of the groups of President Arroyo and Mayor Binay and culminated in a wreath-laying rites for the slain senator.

With President Arroyo in the march that started at the corner of Ayala and Gil Puyat Avenues were former Presidents Corazon C. Aquino and Fidel V. Ramos, officials of the Ayala Corp., some members and employes of the Cabinet.

In the Binay-led march were Vice Mayor Emesto Marcado; Makati City Representatives Agapito "Butz" Aquino, Ninoy's younger brother, and Teodoro Locsin, other members of the August Twenty One Movement (ATOM) and the PDP-Laban, residents, and representatives and members of various non-government organizations.

It was the first time that the salubungan was held in the city to pay tribute to Ninoy and a people's revolution that ended years of authoritarian rule in the country. (Felix Mediavillo)

Oreta

Sen. Teresa Aquino Oreta urged the people yesterday to be vigilant against all threats to civil liberties and systematic maneuvers by the government to drift back to the "garrison state" which her eldest brother, martyred Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, had warned of three decades ago.

Oreta, Ninoy's youngest sister, said that for the Arroyo administration, remembering her brother's martyrdom today would have been more significant had it been marked by genuine efforts towards unity and reconciliation that Ninoy had hoped for when he decided to return to the country 20 years ago despite grave threats to his life and liberty.

But sadly, Oreta said, Malacañang has made a mockery of Ninoy's ideals by sliding towards a garrison state which the Arroyo administration seems to have mimicked just weeks before the nation marked the 20th anniversary of Ninoy's death.

"As we remember Ninoy's martyrdom, let us all pause and seek Divine Providence to give us the courage and strength to remain vigilant, to defend our freedoms and liberties, so that no garrison state will ever descend upon our land now or in the future," Oreta said.

In a privilege speech delivered on the eve of Ninoy's death anniversary, Oreta said that 20 years after Ninoy was assassinated at the then Manila International Airport, the Philippines appears gradually sliding back to the dark era that her brother warned about 30 years ago.

The said Ninoy's warning was initially greeted by widespread public skepticism but later proven correct with the 1972 declaration of martial law.

In Pampanga

SAN FERNANDO City, Pampanga - This province joined the nation commemorate the 20th death anniversary yesterday of the great Kapampangan martyr, Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., with ceremonies at the provincial capitol here.

Gov. Lito Lapid led other government officials and civic leaders in the observance of Ninoy's death anniversary with a wreathlaying ceremony.

The observance coincided with the 48th birth anniversary of Lapid.

Filmer Abrajano, provincial legal officer, said in his brief remarks that Ninoy's death sparked the EDSA revolution and changed the destiny of the nation.

"The senator's death led to the greatest Filipino moment - the fall of the Marcos dictatorship and martial law in the country," he said.

Lapid said Aquino's martyrdom "will always be reminded as the great moment in our history when the Filipinos were honored, respected, and envied around the world." (Fred