Swine scam: Sandigan orders arrest of ex-DA chief

MANILA, Philippines - Former agriculture secretary Luis “Cito” Lorenzo Jr. and three others were ordered arrested yesterday for their alleged role in the anomalous implementation of a swine program in 2004.

The Sandiganbayan’s First Division issued the arrest warrants after finding enough reason to proceed with the graft case that the Office of the Ombudsman had filed last July.

Two of Lorenzo’s co-accused, former Quedan and Rural Credit Guarantee Corp. (Quedancor) board members Wilfredo Domo-Ong and Nellie Ilas, each posted P30,000 bail shortly after learning about the arrest warrants.

Also indicted were Quedancor president Nelson Buenaflor; board members and representatives Romeo Lanciola and Jesus Simon.

The Office of the Ombudsman said: “Input supplies amounting to P47,465,614 were not delivered to the borrowers as of year-end 2005 despite the advance payment therefor by the Quedancor to the Input Suppliers.”

The 2004 swine program was a credit project for swine raisers to help them breed more swine.

They were supposed to be given swine, food, equipment and technical assistance.

Metro Livestock was allegedly allowed to help implement the program without a public bidding and despite failing to pass accreditation and eligibility requirements and lack of license from the Livestock Development Division of the Bureau of Animal Industry while having a paid-up capital of only P62,500 for a P48.6-million project.

Lorenzo is also facing plunder charges along with former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn Bolante before the Sandiganbayan Second Division for his alleged role in the fertilizer fund scam.