Farmer-advocates Sunday urged former Agriculture Secretary Luis “Cito” Lorenzo to help seek justice for slain journalist and whistle-blower Marlene Esperat by telling what he knows about the P728-million fertilizer fund scam.

Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) Secretary-General Danilo Ramos said the former agriculture chief’s duty is to tell all that he knows about the scam and all those involved in it and not ask for any "special treatment."

Lorenzo, who is being implicated for his alleged role in the P728-million fertilizer scam, asked to become a state witness days after he arrived from a four-year vacation in the United States.

“Aside from the fact that Lorenzo only saved his hide then as what he is trying to do now by trying to become a state witness, his actions show that he is a complete coward and cannot stand up for the truth,” Ramos claimed.

“Before he went into hiding he should at least have left a video recording of what really transpired. But instead, he let us farmers who were the main victims of this scam to also bear the brunt of the regime’s attack to hide its complicity,” he said.

Ramos pointed out that Esperat and Teofilo Mojica, former Department of Agriculture (DA) employees, and DA regional director Gumersindo Lasam, were purportedly killed due to their statements on the alleged diversion of fertilizer funds for then-President Arroyo’s campaign kitty.

“Peasants died while he (Lorenzo) avoided facing probe on P728-million scandal. The mere fact that he is alive today is gift enough. He should now just stop the posturing and prepare himself to divulge the truth. It must be settled now and justice for the peasantry should be served,” Ramos said.

KMP-Bicol chairman Felix Paz claimed that while Lorenzo was enjoying his flight to the United States, the whistleblowers were dying one by one.

“Marlene Esperat was murdered while DA employee Teofilo Mojica and his family were massacred. DA regional director Gumersindo Lasam was also killed after he testified on the scam. Esperat was killed for spilling the beans on anomalies at the National Food Authority (NFA) allegedly involving former Secretary Arthur Yap,” Paz said.

“Top officials like former Secretary Bernie Fondevilla, former Undersecretary Jesus Paras and Assistant Secretary Clayton Olalia have not been summoned to court to reveal what they know about the Esperat killing,” he added.

“Aside from Marlene Esperat who was killed in March 24, 2005 regarding the scam peasant witnesses on the first Senate investigation on the scam were also killed, abducted and harassed like Perla Rodriguez, Nilo Arado and the attempts on Danilo Ramos, secretary general of KMP. Lorenzo owes his life to these people who took the heat off him when he fled,” he also said.