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Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel claims it was former lawmaker Zaldy Co who had approached him to ask for import allocations for a sugar importer and for 3 fish importers
MANILA, Philippines – Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on Thursday, November 27, defended First Woman Liza Marcos and her brother, Martin Araneta, from allegations of involvement in rice value manipulation and the onion cartel.
“Napakasinungaling talaga niya (He’s such a liar),” Tiu Laurel informed reporters day after former Ako Bicol consultant Zaldy Co launched one other video accusing the First Woman and her brother of corrupt actions. “The First Woman has by no means meddled in any DA (Division of Agriculture) issues.”
In a video launched on November 26, Co alleged that Tiu Laurel requested the Home mega-panel minimize quick its inquiry into rice value manipulation and claimed that Martin Araneta was concerned within the onion cartel that jacked up costs in 2022.
Tiu-Laurel stated that Araneta by no means requested for any lodging concerning importations of onions or any agricultural commodities.
“I’ve been on this workplace for 2 years, not as soon as did Martin Araneta made a request for importation of onions or any agricultural commodities,” Tiu Laurel stated in a mixture of Filipino and English.
“Hindi ho katulad ni Zaldy Co (Not like Zaldy Co),” he added.
In July 2023, the President ordered the Division of Justice (DOJ) and the Nationwide Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigated the alleged onion cartel and the smuggling and hoarding of different agricultural merchandise. A yr later, he signed the Anti-Agricultural Financial Sabotage Act categorizing smuggling, hoarding, profiteering, and cartel operations of agricultural merchandise as types of financial sabotage.
Allegations vs Zaldy Co
Tiu Laurel stated that in a gathering someday in March 2024 on the Manila Polo Townhouse, Co requested for sugar import allocation amounting to 200,000 metric tons for a serious importer that Co launched to the DA chief at the moment. In 2024, the Philippine authorities solely allowed a complete an importation of of 240,000 MT of refined sugar.
There was an analogous state of affairs beforehand involving fish imports. In September, Tiu Laurel stated Co requested him to approve fish import allocations for 3 fishing firms, two of which Tiu Laurel stated had doubtful background.
Other than the First Woman and her brother, Co implicated the President’s son Home Majority Chief Sandro Marcos within the finances insertion mess. In response to Co, Sandro Marcos inserted billions within the 2023, 2024, and 2025 budgets amounting to P50.938 billion. The lawmaker denied the allegation.
– Rappler.com
