More political killings a year have been committed under the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo than during the time of Ferdinand Marcos, House Minority Floor Leader Francis Escudero said Saturday.

Under the Arroyo administration, 790 political killings have occurred, or a yearly average of 130 per year, Escudero said at press conference in Bacolood City.

Under the 20 years of Marcos rule, the average number of yearly killings was 125, he claimed.

The President has given the Philippine National Police 10 weeks to solve the political killings, but before that deadline is met, 25 more could be killed, based on the average annual figure, Escudero said. Presidential brother-in-law, Rep. Ignacio Arroyo (Negros Occ., 5th District), however, said yesterday that's just speculation and part of the destabilization efforts of the opposition.

Asked for his reaction to the National Democratic Front threat to go after those responsible for the political killings, Escudero said that, in his book, any policy that pits Filipino against Filipino, that will result in the taking of a human life, is not correct, and not good for our country.

He said he supports the creation of a fact-finding body by law and not by executive fiat to look into the rising number of political killings.

The fact-finding body with members from the administration, the opposition, the church, a non-government organization and an international organization on human rights should have subpoena powers, he said.

Meanwhile, he said the President, in her state of the nation address, took pride in announcing that the economy has grown, citing macro economic figures that sounded good.

Our indicators should be a human development index that shows that the wealth of the nation trickles down to people, he said.

In the same SONA, Escudero said the president outlined projects for the various parts of the country estimated to cost P500 billion. She repeated seven times that we now have money, but, if indeed this were true why did the government borrow in the first quarter of the year? he asked.

In her SONA, the President also said the country has the money for all the projects she announced but when it was time to bring the Overseas Filipino Workers from Lebanon the government had to look for the money, he added. The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration should have standby funds for any eventuality but it appears such funds were touched and used for other things, he said.

Escudero said it is not true that all the opposition does is criticize the president, they also work with the administration when they see that what needs to be done is good but this does not get reported in the media.

ON BOLANTE

Meanwhile, Escudero said former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn Bolante cannot be extradited from the United States since no case has been filed against him in court yet.

The Senate has accused Bolante of diverting P728 million in fertilizer funds for farmers to the campaign chest of President Arroyo during the 2004 elections but he repeatedly refused to attend the Senate inquiry

Escudero said the Senate sent a case against Bolante on the fertilizer scam to the Ombudsman but no action has been taken on it, he said.

So if ever Bolante returns to the Philippines, it will be due to deportation and not extradition, he said.

But Escudero also said Bolante has opted for a long trial in the United States while under detention since his bail had been revoked.

Asked during a press conference in Bacolod about reports that Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella's received a share of the fertilizer fund, Escudero said it is not for me to judge his performance, that is for his own constituents to decide.*CPG

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