AGRICULTURE Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. on Thursday dismissed claims of resigned Party-list Rep. Elizaldy S. Co that he shielded a rice cartel allegedly tied to First Lady Marie Louise Araneta-Marcos as “fabricated lies.”
In a press briefing on Thursday, Mr. Tiu Laurel refuted allegations that he halted a House inquiry into rice prices after showing a confidential report implicating the primary lady.
“This will not be true. He is totally lying. The primary lady has never meddled in any Department of Agriculture (DA) matters. Her name doesn’t appear in any report we submitted to Congress,” Mr. Tiu Laurel said in a combination of English and Filipino.
This followed the discharge of a video statement, through which Mr. Co accused Ms. Marcos of being involved in a scheme that has kept prices of the staple grain artificially high despite reduced import duties.
He said Ms. Marcos was “accountable for the rice importers” that lawmakers began looking into as a result of elevated rice prices despite the rice import tariff being cut to fifteen% from 35%.
Mr. Co alleged that congressmen prematurely ended their investigation after the Agriculture secretary presented a document linking Ms. Marcos to the rice trade, prompting then‑House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez and Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” A. Marcos III to call for its termination.
Mr. Tiu Laurel also denied the ex-lawmaker’s allegations that the primary lady’s brother, Martin Araneta, is involved in onion smuggling and market manipulation that led to the 2022 price spike. “In my two years as Secretary of Agriculture, he has never made a single importation request,” he said.
The Agriculture secretary also addressed claims that the DA favored certain firms in giving import allocations, saying it was Mr. Co who repeatedly sought massive allocations for his nominated firms.
“It was Zaldy Co himself who asked me for 3,000 containers of imported fish to be allocated to his nominated firms. It’s clear that I didn’t grant his request because we have already got a good and transparent system for everybody to level the playing field,” he said.
Mr. Tiu Laurel also alleged that in March 2024, Mr. Co personally approached him to secure an allocation of 200,000 metric tons (MT) of refined sugar for a serious importer.
“Zaldy Co asked me in the event that they might be given an import allocation of 200,000 MT of refined sugar for 2024. I used to be surprised by the scale of his request. I just said I’d look into it,” the DA chief said.
Mr. Tiu Laurel also debunked Mr. Co’s claim that he really helpful importing 13 million MT of rice in 2024. “That volume would kill our farmers. It equals 20 million MT of palay, our entire national production.”
He added that Mr. Co had actually pushed for a zero-percent tariff on rice imports, a proposal rejected by each him and then-Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto.
The DA secretary is considering filing cyberlibel charges against the previous lawmaker. “I’m going to confer with my personal legal team. As in any case, we’ve got to be very thorough to make certain every little thing is polished. Hopefully, this may occur in January next 12 months,” Mr. Tiu Laurel said.
Despite the allegations, the DA stays optimistic about foreign investment within the sector.
“We might be breaking ground on a brand new plant with Korean investors in Cabanatuan to fabricate agricultural machinery. That clearly shows they’re supporting the DA and still have faith within the Philippines,” Mr. Tiu Laurel said.
READY TO TESTIFY
Meanwhile, Rep. Marcos, whom Mr. Co also accused of meddling with the national budget, told the independent body tasked to research the multibillion-peso flood control scam that he’s willing to cooperate with its investigations.
Mr. Marcos said he is ready to testify before the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) after he was accused of “inserting” about P50 billion into the national budget over the past three years by a resigned lawmaker at the middle of the brewing political scandal. The younger Marcos had denied the allegation.
“I stand able to cooperate, answer questions and supply any clarification needed to maneuver this investigation forward,” he said in a letter addressed to ICI Chairman Andres B. Reyes, Jr. that was shared with reporters on Thursday.
Mr. Co, who previously headed the House Appropriations Committee, shared photos on Tuesday showing where the younger Marcos’ budget “insertions” appeared in annual national spending plan documents, detailing public works projects starting from flood control and drainage to canals and roads nationwide.
“I extend my full respect to the work of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure and its efforts to uncover the reality behind the continuing investigation on flood control projects,” the younger Marcos said.
“I welcome the chance to make clear any matter that will assist your review.”
Upon receipt of the letter, the ICI on Thursday said it would convene to find out the schedule a proper hearing for the presidential son.
“We pay attention to his willingness to seem voluntarily before the commission, and we are going to wait for the commission to eventually set the date on when he might be coming,” ICI Executive Director Brian Keith F. Hosaka told reporters.
Mr. Hosaka said the commission couldn’t speculate on the influence of Mr. Co’s video statements amid the continuing probe, noting that Mr. Marcos’ willingness to cooperate would expand the data available to the inquiry.
“The commission, for its part, is open to any kind of knowledge no matter who that person is, [to] voluntarily appear and testify under oath, and that may be a big thing for us,” he said.
He added that unless Mr. Marcos formally requests an executive session, the hearing will follow the commission’s default medium, with proceedings being livestreamed.
The commission has conducted multiple executive sessions with several congressional lawmakers as resource individuals because the resumption of hearings this week.
These closed-door discussions, Mr. Hosaka said, focused on explaining how the flood control projects were funded and the way the budget process was being conducted.
The ICI’s recent hearings have zeroed in on allegations raised by contractors Cezarah Rowena C. Discaya and Pacifico F. Discaya II, who earlier testified before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.
The Discayas said some lawmakers demanded kickbacks for flood control projects, submitting ledgers showing names, dates, and amounts, and people individuals at the moment are being called to seem before the ICI.
The accused lawmakers have largely denied the allegations, calling them baseless, with some threatening to file libel or perjury charges against the couple.
Quezon City Rep. Patrick Michael “PM” Vargas, who appeared on the commission’s Thursday hearing, said there have been no ghost projects in his district.
“We presented documents and other proof to the ICI showing that there are not any ‘Discaya’ projects in District 5, and that there are not any ghost projects in our district,” his statement read in Filipino.
Meanwhile, Quezon City Rep. Ma. Victoria “Marivic” Co-Pilar declined to face the media.
House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III on Thursday reiterated his chamber’s commitment to cooperate with the ICI, holding his earlier vow to confront corruption accusations which have tainted the chamber.
“Whatever happens, the House of Representatives stays committed to its duty to serve the nation,” he said in an announcement in Filipino. “Accountability is a component of being a public servant, and all members — whether under investigation or not — are able to cooperate with any process while continuing to meet their role as legislators.”
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin C. Remulla on Wednesday said that 10% of the 318-member chamber are being investigated for suspected liability and conflict of interest within the widening flood control scandal.
Mr. Dy was elected as Speaker on Sept. 17, replacing Mr. Marcos’ cousin and ally Mr. Romualdez amid House efforts to sanitize its image that has been blemished by corruption allegations.
“Under my leadership, this House will change,” he said in a speech after being elected in September. “I is not going to defend the guilty, and I is not going to shield the corrupt.”
The Speaker said the chamber respects the ICI’s mandate to resolve the corruption scandal. “We consider that truth must not ever be concealed and that those responsible have to be held accountable.” — Vonn Andrei E. Villamiel, Erika Mae P. Sinaking and Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio