I'm sorry ... I ask you to forgive me

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

Nothing should stand in the way of ... the next phase of my reform agenda... That is why I want to close this chapter and move on with the business of governing.

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.

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.

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 (National Citizens Movement for Free Elections).

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo*
Philippine President