It’s GMA who’s playing politics — Escudero

Look who’s talking!

This was how a leader of the opposition in the House of Representatives reacted yesterday to President Arroyo’s accusation that her critics were engaging in premature politics ahead of the May 2007 congressional-local elections.

"It is Mrs. Arroyo who has been playing politics since before her doubtful victory in the May 2004 presidential election," Minority Leader Francis Escudero said.

"Her kind of politics is worse, because she’s playing politics with tens of billions in people’s money that should have been put to good use," he added.

He cited the P2.8-billion fertilizer and farm inputs scam and the P1.9-billion "Kalsada Natin, Alagaan Natin" project.

Escudero said the President released the huge sums shortly before the May 2004 presidential election to buy political and electoral support.

He said Mrs. Arroyo has nothing to show in terms of concrete accomplishments for the billions she spent in the course of the election campaign.

"The liquid fertilizer her allies bought with the P2.8 billion bonanza quickly evaporated, if it was procured at all. The Commission on Audit has discovered that a big part of the money was skimmed by corrupt politicians and bureaucrats," he said.

As for the "Kalsada" project, the opposition leader pointed out that the bulk of the P1.9 billion was spent for blue t-shirts, posters and billboards advertising the project.

"No stretch of road was paved with that kind of money. Sure, there were street sweepers who were employed and paid P100 to P150 a day, but they became jobless as soon as the votes were counted in 2004," he stressed.

Escudero said Mrs. Arroyo continues to play politics with taxpayers’ money by regularly releasing pork barrel funds to her allies in Congress but denying opposition lawmakers’ constituents the money due them.

"The pork barrel system is supposed to make sure that every district gets its share of national resources, however small. That is why it is described as the great equalizer. But the President has destroyed its equalizing effect by choosing who gets funds and who doesn’t," he said.

In accusing the opposition of engaging in early politicking, Mrs. Arroyo said she would not be drawn into a premature political contest.

She said while her critics were posturing, she would continue to focus on improving the economy.

Escudero reminded her that she should not claim exclusive credit for the modest improvement that the nation has attained on the economic front.

He said the economy is moving because of the expanded value added tax that Congress has imposed on the already burdened public.

He warned Mrs. Arroyo that election-related spending and "money making" undertakings similar to the fertilizer scam and "Kalsada" project might yet set back the country’s economic gains.

At Malacañang, presidential spokesperson Ignacio Bunye said the administration would concentrate on sustaining the country’s economic gains instead of engaging in politicking.

"Our economy is on a roll and President Arroyo is firmly focused on sustaining its momentum," Bunye said.

"This administration will continue to unswervingly advance the cause and welfare of our people and this is not the time for another round of political noise."

He said the Palace is leaving "the business of politics to the politicians."

"We urge our political leaders to keep their aim high, push the nation forward and stay away from the mud pit of dirty politics," he said.

He said the strong peso, bullish stock market, low inflation and increased gross international reserves are signs that the economy is growing.

The tough economic and fiscal reforms undertaken by the administration, bannered by the imposition of the 12 percent value-added tax and the Lateral Attrition Law, as well as the all-out campaign against tax cheats and smugglers, "have created a train of positive developments for the country," including increased investor confidence and favorable assessments of the Philippines by international credit ratings agencies, he added.

The international credit rating agency Moody’s Investors Service earlier raised the country’s credit outlook from negative to stable, months after other ratings agencies gave similar favorable views on the country’s fiscal health.

Meanwhile, the peso continued to gain strength against the US dollar, breaching the P50 level against the greenback a few days back. Monetary authorities predict that the peso could break out of the P49 level and hit P48.50 to a dollar before yearend.

The benchmark 30-company Philippine Stock Exchange index also posted a fresh nine-year high, surpassing the key 2,800 resistance level and closing at 2,818 yesterday. –Jess Diaz, Paolo Romero