Manila (Agenzia Fides) – During the traditional annual meeting with the media, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said the Philippines government’s new priority is war on al-Qaeda in south east Asia: “Muslim Jihad is the main threat for the Philippines” she affirmed. According to EFE news agency the President said the army had formed special units to find and capture terrorists because the people of the Philippines need first of all justice and reconciliation. Countries belonging to Asean (Associations of South East Asian Nations) have increased exchange of information on this matter because “trans-national crimes like terrorism call for international cooperation”. President Arroyo also said that her country will collaborate with the United States of America in the limits laid down in the Constitution: during a brief visit last Saturday President Bush promised more military aid to the Philippines’ army which has been fighting Muslim terrorism for years. Two more priorities indicated by Arroyo for her government are peace-talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front the main separatist Muslim group on Mindanao, and disarming the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group. (S.L.) (Fides Service 24/10/2003 – lines 14; words 209)