S en. Francis “Chiz” Escudero said that if and when he becomes the President of the Philippines, he would honor a request by the United States government to extradite former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and some former Filipino officials who may be indicted with her in an American criminal court. Not only will an Escudero Administration agree to the extradition process but also the needed evidence will be made available by the new government to the American prosecutors.

Thus, Senator Escudero answered this writer’s question in an open forum held at a luncheon reception tendered by the Casiguran (Sorsogon) Association of Southern California at the Bahay Kubo restaurant in Los Angeles yesterday. The Escuderos hail from the town of Casiguran in Sorsogon Province. This writer was the only journalist at the reception.

Why the Arroyo Family and Its Rasputins Will Meet General Noriega’s Fate 

Senator Escudero is in town, as he was the keynote speaker at the Kalayaan Philippine Independence Grand Ball held at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles last night.

This writer also reminded Senator Escudero and their fellow Sorsoganons that even if Mrs. Arroyo would be elected as a congresswoman representing a district in Pampanga, she could still be extradited. There is precedence of extraditing to the United States an incumbent member of Philippine Congress. This happened in 2007 to then Rep. Mark Jimenez who was indicted in a Florida federal court, found guilty and jailed for violation of American campaign-finance laws, money laundering and tax evasion.

In fact, Senator Escudero explained further how his administration would be able to curb corruption. He said that he would do three steps:

1.)    By using the legislation process and giving more teeth to anti-corruption laws.

2.)    By increasing the salary of government employees and officials.

3.)    By filing criminal cases against, and penalizing, the crooks.

Senator Escudero said also that he even kidded a friend, Mike Defensor, who is a top official of the Arroyo Administration, that if he (Mr. Defensor) would be found guilty of corruption, he would be jailed only for five years. As Philippine President, Mr. Escudero promised to grant a pardon to Mr. Defensor during the final year of his term.

This writer finally told his fellow Sorsoganons, including Senator Escudero, that he would be meeting with Philippine presidential aspirants who are visiting Southern California. He would ask the same question about the projected extradition of Mrs. Arroyo, once she is no longer the Philippine President. This writer is scheduled to meet with Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay on Tuesday, June 16, 2008, in Los Angeles. If all the presidential aspirants would agree to permit the extradition of Mrs. Arroyo, et al, to the United States, then they could all sign a Covenant with the Filipino People during the coming presidential debate. The covenant can include the extradition of Mrs. Arroyo and other common ways of solving national problems.  # # #