Aglipay said experts in the PNP's crime laboratory continue to examine the bomb fragments left by its safe detonation. The bomb's "signature" would confirm whether or not the suspects of the police were behind the bombing.

The bomb was made of ammonium nitrate, fuel, wires and two clocks used as a timing device. Authorities evacuated three office buildings including the embassies of Britain and Canada after the device was found.

The police chief said they are not dismissing the involvement of the "extreme left and the extreme right" in the bombing although he said they are also looking at a specific group.

Aglipay added the bomb was set to explode and was not merely staged to cause panic on the public.

Meanwhile, Aglipay said a police task force had been formed in order to address any possible attacks on Dec. 26, the anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines. The police have also increased its visibility in shopping malls, and strategic locations like power plants and other public places.

Syed Hamid said late Friday that Manila was currently unable to take custody of Misuari for security reasons, but stressed that Malaysia was eager to deport the rebel leader and was only holding him on behalf of the Philippines.

"We still hold on to the understanding that he must be deported as soon as possible... the sooner, the better, because we do not want to be in limbo," he was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times daily.

"Nur Misuari is neither a refugee nor an asylum seeker. The most important thing now is that we already have an agreement... which is to deport him.

"The timing for his deportation is just an administrative matter," the foreign minister said after returning from a meeting in Manila to discuss Misuari's fate.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Friday rejected an appeal from the Organization of the Islamic Conference for Misuari to be given sanctuary in a third country and instead vowed to put him on trial for rebellion.

Macapagal's government was reportedly unhappy about taking Misuari back immediately for fear he could become a rallying point for Muslim discontent in the southern Philippines.

The Macapagal government had earlier floated the idea of sending Misuari to Libya to head off a violent backlash by his supporters, but stressed Friday that this was no longer on the table.

PHILIPPINE share prices are likely to rise next week due to window-dressing by institutions as they close their books for the year, analysts said Friday.

"Next week, we will still see some window-dressing," said Astro del Castillo of A&A Securities Inc. "Most of the bad news has been digested," he said, adding if the index broke through the 1,150 level, it could rise to 1,200. "It seems like we'll end the year with good cheer."

Tower Securities's Teresa Lee-Jahrling said there are signs of window dressing in most counters, fuelling optimism that the composite index may trend higher when trading resumes next Wednesday after holidays on Monday and Tuesday.

"The market is really stable at this time when we're nearing the end of the year," she said.

The Philippine Stock Exchange composite index rose 1.8 percent or by 19.96 points over the week to close at 1,145.97 points on Friday.

Average daily volume turnover fell to 454.12 million shares while value rose to 499.64 million pesos (9.6 million dollars) this week from 541.5 million shares worth 379.11 million pesos the previous week.

MORE Filipinos have become dissatisfied with the Macapagal administration for failing to put an end to drug trafficking and corrupt tax collection, and to make peace with communist rebels, according to the findings of the latest Social Weather Station.

The survey, which covered the period from Nov. 3 to 21, showed the administration's net satisfaction rating declining on three issues: "reconciling with communist rebels," +7, down by 7 points from +14 in July; "campaigning against illegal drugs," +8, down by 10 points from +18 in June 1999; and "collecting taxes," -3, down by 7 points from +4 in July.

The survey also showed that more Filipinos feel the administration has not done enough to eradicate graft, bring down prices of basic commodities, prevent crimes against ordinary citizens, put an end to the Abu Sayyaf, and promote Muslim autonomy in Mindanao.

Compared to its Sept. 1-18 survey, the SWS said the administration continued to suffer from a negative net public satisfaction rating in most of these issues.

But the good news was that the number of those dissatisfied has declined, the SWS said.

The SWS said the administration's satisfaction rating in three issues improved from negative to positive.

These are: "reconciliation with Muslim rebels," +9, up by 22 points from -13; "ensuring affordable medicine," +5, up by 21 points from -16; and "promoting foreign investments," +6, up by 8 points from -2.

The administration continued to enjoy a positive rating in promoting the welfare of overseas Filipino workers, morality in public service, helping the poor, and developing livelihood opportunities.

CHILDREN of Quezon City on Saturday took turns grilling President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on the problems of the country and the President's childhood.

During the president's weekly program held at San Isidro, Quezon City, one child inquired about the war in Mindanao. "Why are they fighting?" she asked.

"I'm asking that myself," Ms Macapagal said. "I hope the spirit of Christmas would pervade in their hearts."

"My mom was asking why are prices of goods increasing," a small boy asked.

Ms Macapagal said her administration has been working to stop price increases despite economic problems. She maintained that food products have been stable since last year.

The President said that stores that are overpricing should be reported to trade authorities. At the same time, she told her young audience that the government is offering through the Rolling Stores of the National Food Authority low-cost sugar, rice, and other food items.

Another child asked why the garbage in his neighborhood is not picked up. But a baranggay official of San Isidro denied this, saying that dump trucks do their rounds twice a week.

The children also inquired about the President's childhood.

Ms Macapagal claimed she was "very disciplined" as a child who followed a strict schedule for homework even as she admitted studying in front of the television.

"That's why I am a disciplined President," she boasted.

"What is your favorite cartoon show?" another child asked. The President cited "Masters of the Universe" and "Voltes V" as among those her three children watched when they were younger.

But she lamented she may only get to watch cartoon shows again when she is no longer busy with national issues and only after her son Juan Miguel "Mikee" Arroyo produces grandchildren for her.

She advised children, "Study hard. That is your biggest responsibility".

She said she has ordered the Philippine National Police to hunt down the perpetrators of child prostitution, child hard labor, and other forms of abuse against children.

The President said the Out of School, Out of Work Urban Poor Emergency Program would focus on the youth at the high school and college levels.

"Education and health are the most important for children," she stressed.

She said the government is working to establish schools in every barangay in the country particularly those in remote provinces. The President also presented additional rolling stores handled by the National Food Authority to provide low-cost daily food products.

"Hopefully, the children will be more happy next Christmas," Ms Macapagal said.

A MILITANT organization of migrant workers accused President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of "gimmickry" in welcoming the arrival of scores of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Friday.

To dramatize their sentiment, some 60 members of Migrante International unfurled streamers assailing Ms Macapagal for what they called her "anti-migrant workers" stance while the President, in another wing of the airport, was clasping hands with homecoming overseas workers.

"Her Pamaskong Handog program is nothing but an attempt to gain cute points," Migrante said in a statement.

"Ms Macapagal is the only President who has told us to 'stay abroad'," said Migrante International chair Leo Legaspi.

The statement also accused Ms Macapagal of neglecting the welfare of migrant workers, citing the Department of Labor and Employment's Memorandum of Instruction No. 8, which requires overseas workers to pay 25 dollars to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) as "voluntary membership fee".

This is on top of other fees for passports, National Bureau of Investigation clearances, Medicare, and other processing fees.

TRADE Secretary Manuel Roxas II said on Friday he would only serve as a facilitator in the Malacañang committee that is overseeing Kirin International's 540 dollars million buy-in into San Miguel Corp.

"I understand the nature of this assignment is to facilitate the transfer of information between Kirin and the Presidential Commission on Good Government," Roxas said. "It's not to make an assessment or review. I don't think that's part of my job."

Ultimately, he said, the decision on whether to support the Kirin deal should be made by the PCGG, which is the guardian of the government and the public interest in SMC.

Roxas oversaw the first dialogue between the government and Kirin officials on Friday.

The two-hour meeting in Malacañang was attended by Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo, Finance Secretary Jose Isidro Camacho, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Avelino Cruz Jr., Solicitor General Simeon Marcelo, PCGG Chair Haydee Yorac and PCGG Commissioners Ruben Carranza and Victoria Avena; Kirin COO Shigeki Ota, Kirin Southeast Asia chief Charles Ong, and Global Corp. Finance managing director Charles Martin and its local counsel from the Romulo, Mabanta law office.

The Kirin executives briefed the government officials on its investment plan. The local officials maintained, however, that their primary concern was the preservation and promotion of the rights of the small coconut farmers.

At the meeting, Roxas echoed President Macapagal-Arroyo's sentiment that Kirin's investment was a vote of confidence not only in San Miguel but in her administration and the Philippine economy.

Roxas' predecessor, however, came in for some brickbats, even after President Macapagal replaced him with Roxas on Thursday.

Camacho must explain his role in the government's turn-around favoring the Kirin investment in San Miguel, according to Rep. Carlos Padilla.

Padilla, House minority floor leader, said on Friday that while Camacho has been replaced as government overseer in the Kirin-SMC deal, there were questions he still had to answer.

President Macapagal-Arroyo replaced Camacho with Roxas after reports surfaced the finance secretary had tried to broker a deal between the two brewing giants when he was a private investment banker prior to joining the government.

"Was Camacho instrumental in the government's decision to push through with the deal?" Padilla said he wants to know.

"Was his recommendation sought by the Cabinet and the President on this?" he asked.

"If he made suggestions or gave advice, were they in the interest of the government or of the parties for whom Camacho was formerly working?" Padilla continued.

Padilla said he had been relieved to hear the government was inclined to go through the deal. But after he learned that Camacho had tried to broker a similar deal before, he said he started to doubt the finance secretary's "intentions."

"He has a lot of explaining to do," Padilla said in a phone interview.

THE COMMUNIST National Democratic Front (NDF) Friday warned the government that military, police and paramilitary units "must not encroach" on its "territory" during the Christmas ceasefire declared by both sides.

In a statement issued its chair Luis Jalandoni, the NDF said the New People's Army (NPA) had been instructed to stay vigilant against any such encroachment.

It said "encroachment on the territory of the people's democratic government, surveillance or offensive operations by the armed commands and units of the (government) are deemed hostile actions or movements of the enemy armed forces. They constitute violations of the reciprocal and concurrent ceasefire."

The NDF added that it hoped the mutual ceasefire would improve the atmosphere for releasing captives from both sides and for holding the next round of formal negotiations in early January 2002 in Oslo, Norway.