If this is what you mean, then you need to make sure your PDF code looks like this and uses line.description:
<table class=“itemtable” style=“width: 100%; margin-top: 10px;“><!-- start items --><#list statement.lines as line><#if line_index==0>
<thead>
<tr>
<th colspan=“3”>${line.datecol@label}</th>
<th colspan=“3">Due Date</th>
<th colspan=“5”>${line.description@label}</th>
<th colspan=“4">PO#</th>
<th align=“right” colspan=“3">${line.charge@label}</th>
<th align=“right” colspan=“3">${line.payment@label}</th>
<th align=“right” colspan=“3">${line.balance@label}</th>
</tr>
</thead>
</#if><tr>
<td colspan=“3”>${line.datecol}</td>
<td colspan=“3">${line.duedate}</td>
<td colspan=“5”>${line.description}</td>
<td colspan=“4">${line.otherrefnum}</td>
<td align=“right” colspan=“3">${line.charge}</td>
<td align=“right” colspan=“3">${line.payment}</td>
<td align=“right” colspan=“3">${line.balance}</td>
</tr>
</#list><!-- end items --></table>