The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) contested Landbank and QUEDANCOR Chairman Luisito Lorenzo's claim that his controversial cell phone use was incurred in a span of 16 months. According to Danilo "Ka Daning" Ramos, secretary general of the group, "actually Chairman Lorenzo's bills were incurred in just a matter of a few months up to a maximum of 12 months. The COA memo was also done for Calendar Year 2003 alone, it could not have reviewed his communication expenses other than the specified year,”

 "Besides he is diverting the issue. The main point here is that his style of work is lavish, extravagant and without any regard for taxpayer's money. A P155, 036.96 tab for a single cell phone bill can never be justifiable, especially now that our country is in a crisis," added the peasant leader.

 The group also pointed out that the COA memo reinforced earlier reports which showed that Lorenzo charged to the government, through the QUEDANCOR, P100, 000 a month for one of his three cell phones when he was still in the DA portfolio.

 As for his part Carl Anthony Ala, public information officer of KMP "maybe Chairman Lorenzo was dreaming when he said that the agricultural sector prospered under his watch. On the contrary, it was one of the worst times in agriculture, for example 2002 was one of the highest volumes of rice that we imported in recent years amounting to 1,139,999 MT. Also this year alone rice prices have risen 4 times. The price of rice has now risen about 100%-300%. Is this what Cito is so proud of as the product of his imeldific antics?

 "Another point is it was also during his time that we almost came to a rice crisis, due to his no-brainer program called farmers as importers.
Lest we forget a P432 million plunder case is still filed against him in the Office of the Ombudsman. Now is this anyone you would trust with money for farmers in the Landbank and QUEDANCOR?" quizzed Ala.# # #
 

KMP - 3 October 2004