The militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) chided newly resigned Presidential Adviser for Job Creation as well as the concurrent chair of the the Landbank and the QUEDANCOR Luisito “Cito” Lorenzo, saying that the technocrat cannot take the heat in the Macapagal-Arroyo cabinet anymore. According to Danilo “Ka Daning” Ramos, secretary general of the group, “Cito’s nerves cannot take it anymore so he bailed out. He may just have bidded his time for the contoversy surrounding him to subside and performed a graceful exit,”

As can be remembered the former Department of Agriculture (DA) secretary is involved in a plunder case concerning the agricultural funds scam which Gloria Macapgal-Arroyo may have used for her campaign kitty last year. He is also involved in massive expenditures concerning his department during his term, with his cellphone and travels amounting to millions of pesos. His positions as the concurrent chairs of the Landbank and QUEDANCOR are also under fire because it is unconstitutional.

“Cito also cannot take the enormity of his task because he may wrack his brains for all its worth, but he could never generate a million jobs a year as the president promised during her campaign stint. This is really a tall order that the president thrusted upon Cito and it seems that he cannot take it anymore,” added the peasant leader.

As for his part Carl Anthony Ala, public information officer of KMP, “though Mr. Lorenzo may have resigned but we will still pursue the charges against him. His wrong doings and the irregularities under his term should still be accounted for and the necessary punishment should be meted against him,”

“To have a clear conscience Mr. Lorenzo, should tell all about his dealings and spill the beans on all those behind these scams. It is only with this that the process of clearing his name will start but if not then he is as guilty as the masteminds of these massive schemes which have deprived the Filipino people of their hard-earned money,” # # #  

KMP - 17 February 2005