Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. has called for an inquiry into Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman's distribution of Toyota Hi-Lux pickups for mayors of the second district of Lanao del Sur last June 30 and the donation of an initial P10,000 for each barangay of the first district of the same province on June 28.

He stressed that this is necessary in the light of suspicions that the money used came from the P330-billion Comprehensive Livelihood Enhancement and Employment Program (CLEEP).

Pimentel explained that it is the duty of the legislative branch to undertake an investigation into the multi-million doleouts since they could be used to support the candidacy of Pangandaman as congressman of the first district of Lanao del Sur.

The same demand has been made by the Ugnayan ng Nagsasariling Organisasyon sa Kanayunan (Unorka), which also called for Pangandaman to quit his post for politicking and questionable disbursements of funds.

Pimentel has been largely responsible for the passage of the bill that extended the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) for five years and provided it with P150 billion to step up the acquisition of big estates and their distribution to landless peasants.

The new law also called for a congressional oversight committee to look into the use of the Agrarian Reform Fund (ARF) to prevent its depletion.

Unorka deputy national coordinator Evangeline Mendoza said Pangandaman should explain if the initial P10,000 distributed to barangay captains last Sunday, the first day of the "Linggo ng Lanao del Sur," came from the ARF or CLEEP, which was established to encourage spending and thus increase the demand for goods and services to stimulate the economy.

Reports from Lanao del Sur showed that the mayors met with Maguindanao Governor Datu Andal Ampatuan at the Marco Polo Hotel in Davao City, where the pickups from the Toyota Center in Davao were distributed, and where the mayors pledged to support the candidacy of Pangandaman for congressman next year.