Manila - Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Monday rejected appeals for the government to scrap an unpopular sales tax to ease spiraling food and fuel prices.

In her annual state of the nation address in Congress, Arroyo said removing the 12-per cent value-added tax (VAT) would dampen investor confidence, weaken the economy and further hike prices.

"Take away VAT and we strip our people of the means to ride out the world food and energy crisis," she said in her speech, which many had hoped would offer relief for the high prices.

Manila  - Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Wednesday called for the resumption of stalled peace talks with the country's largest Muslim separatist rebel group.

Manila  -

Manila- Philippine President

Manila  - Anti-government protests marked the 61st birthday of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Saturday, with activists renewing their calls for the scandal-tainted leader to resign