Magsaysay on fertilizer scam: Cito is ‘as culpable’ as Joc-joc

(Updated 7:10 am July 9) Former Agriculture chief Luis “Cito" Lorenzo Jr. is as liable as his better-known subordinate Jocelyn “Joc-joc" Bolante for the multimillion-peso fertilizer funds scam, said a former legislator whose Senate committee investigated the controversial project four years ago. In an interview by Tina Panganiban-Perez aired over GMA News’ “24 Oras," former Senator Ramon Magsaysay Jr. said Lorenzo is “as culpable and as accountable" as former Agriculture undersecretary Bolante. Lorenzo was the direct superior of Bolante, who is widely seen as having played a pivotal role in the alleged diversion of P728-million fertilizer funds, intended for poor farmers, to the 2004 presidential campaign kitty of former President Gloria Arroyo.
"They say it takes one to catch one (but) I don't think he is the least guilty. I think being the head of the department at that time, (Lorenzo) is as culpable and as accountable as Mr. Bolante and the others that we recommended filing plunder charges against," Magsaysay said. Lorenzo arrived Saturday after fleeing to the United States four years ago, like Bolante, in the middle of a Senate investigation on the issue. (See: Ex-DA chief back in RP, urged to bare all in fertilizer scam) At the conclusion of that investigation, the Senate committee on agriculture had recommended that charges of graft and corruption be filed against several individuals, including Bolante and Lorenzo. However, the Office of the Ombudsman, the body that investigates wrongdoings by government officials, at that time did not act on the Senate committee's recommendations. Bolante was deported to the Philippines on Oct. 27, 2008. On Feb. 23, 2009, the Senate recommended plunder charges to be filed against Bolante and other officials. Lorenzo was not included since he never took the witness stand again after he left the country. Possible state witness Lorenzo's return from the U.S. and his promise to talk about the fertilizer funds scam have brought up suggestions that he be considered as a possible state witness. Magsaysay himself believes the former Agriculture secretary can still be considered for protection as a state witness, despite his culpability. Palace spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Thursday that the possibility of turning Lorenzo into a state witness will still have to be studied by the Truth Commission, a body yet to be formally formed by Aquino which will probe corruption scandals primarily in the Arroyo administration. It will be headed by retired Chief Justice Hilario Davide. "As President Aquino has indicated, he is interested to know what Secretary Cito Lorenzo would have to say. Again that will also be within the parameters of the Truth Commission because the fertilizer fund scam is one of those controversies that require closure," Lacierda said in a press briefing. "Dadaan yan siguro sa Truth Commission, pag-uusapan tapos titingnan ang kanyang culpability (It will probably go through the Truth Commission, be deliberated there to see his culpability), to what degree is his participation, and from there they will be able to determine if he is the least guilty and be discharged as state witness," said Lacierda, who is himself a lawyer. Lacierda also said security for Lorenzo can be arranged as needed. "He mentioned that there were threats. If it is necessary and if it's for the furtherance of searching for the truth, then if he requests we will provide him," he said. Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, for her part, said her office will also look into this possibility. “Ie-evaluate yan (That will be evaluated). There are certain factors that have to be considered. Hindi madali ang pag-eevaluate ng mga ganyan (It’s not easy to evaluate cases like this). He must not appear to be the most guilty," de Lima said in the 24-Oras newscast. President Benigno “Noynoy" Aquino III earlier said that while Lorenzo could become state witness, he will not receive special favors or treatment from the new administration even if Lorenzo’s brother Martin contributed P20 million to Aquino’s presidential campaign. (See: No favors for ex-Agriculture chief from govt, Aquino says) Lorenzo still liable For his part, former Senate Blue Ribbon committee chair Richard Gordon Jr. said Lorenzo may still be held liable even if he insists that not a single centavo from the funds scam passed through him. “Although he may not have been part of it, he still has responsibility as Cabinet secretary to see to it that all the money given to his department is properly (used)," Gordon said in the same “24 Oras" newscast. Lorenzo also has to explain why he fled the country. "In law, flight is guilt," Gordon explained. Lorenzo insists he’s innocent Lorenzo maintained he was never involved in the multimillion-peso fertilizer fund scam and never benefited from it, even as he reiterated his willingness to testify in any investigation that will ensue. (See: Ex-DA chief willing to testify in P728-M fertilizer scam) “The truth will come out and I think many people will cooperate one way or the other," Lorenzo said in the interview with GMA News.
He insisted he never benefited from the funds scam, and stressed that he was not among those recommended by the Senate Blue Ribbon committee, which conducted a separate investigation on the scam, to be charged in relation to the issue. When asked in the interview if he indeed signed papers to facilitate the transfer of the fertilizer funds, Lorenzo turned ambiguous and only said, “That has to be clarified." “Maraming umuupo na senador, governor, congressman, city mayor na inaalok noon — na hindi ko alam, hindi ko alam talaga — ay pumunta sa akin. So siguro, pwede niyong interbyuhin, ano’ng nangyari," he explained evasively. (Many sitting senators, governors, congressmen, and city mayors who were offered back then — I really didn’t know about it — came to me. So maybe you should interview them to ask what happened.) Prosecute Lorenzo, peasant group urges Aquino In a statement, the militant peasant group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) urged Aquino to prosecute Lorenzo instead of “socializing" with him. Aquino admitted having had a brief chat with Lorenzo in a birthday party Saturday night, but said he did not have a chance for a longer talk. According to KMP secretary general Danilo Ramos, peasant groups across the country had confirmed they never received any fertilizer subsidies as reported by the government. The KMP head said the fund was released three months before the May 2004 presidential elections and it was Bolante who coordinated its immediate release with the Budget department through the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani program, the agricultural program of the Arroyo administration. “This scam has wreaked havoc on the lives of the peasants, especially as those who testified at the Senate and gave interviews were victimized by the Arroyo regime," Ramos said. ‘We have been conned, abducted and killed’ On January 16, 2006, Pampanga KMP official Ofelia Rodriguez was shot dead after she appeared on a public-affairs television program and affirmed she never received any fertilizer subsidy. The suspects were military agents, Ramos claimed. KMP official Nilo Arado, who had testified at the Senate inquiry on the scam, was abducted on April 12, 2007 in Iloilo, again by suspected military elements, Ramos also said. (See: Kin of murdered witnesses hit special treatment for Bolante) “We have been conned, abducted and killed. Thus, this new government should be serious about investigating the fertilizer scam. Lorenzo could not be innocent as he is the immediate superior of Bolante," Ramos said. Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano, who is also the chairperson of the KMP, had earlier said it was "premature" for the Aquino government to turn Lorenzo into a state witness. “Raising the possibility of turning Lorenzo as state witness on the fertilizer fund scam smacks of political accommodation, especially when it is coming from the President himself," said Mariano, noting Martin's contribution to the president's campaign. KMP filed a plunder complaint before the Ombudsman in 2004 against Lorenzo, Bolante, and Mrs. Arroyo. The case is still pending, although the peasant group said it is to pressure Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez to act on the cases. Meanwhile, Bolante refused to comment on the issue, saying he has yet to hear of Lorenzo’s recent pronouncements. “I will cooperate with all legal and fair investigation. Bringing (the) P728 million issue to its full closure is good for our country and for those wrongly implicated," Bolante said in a statement in the “24-Oras" newscast. He added overlapping investigations must be avoided so as not waste taxpayers’ money, and that the integrity of the investigation must be protected from those who may exploit it for their personal interests.—JV, GMANews.TV