MANILA, Philippines – Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on Thursday, November 27, defended First Lady Liza Marcos and her brother, Martin Araneta, from allegations of involvement in rice price manipulation and the onion cartel.

“Napakasinungaling talaga niya (He is such a liar),” Tiu Laurel told reporters day after former Ako Bicol representative Zaldy Co released another video accusing the First Lady and her brother of corrupt activities. “The First Lady has never meddled in any DA (Department of Agriculture) matters.”

In a video released on November 26, Co alleged that Tiu Laurel asked the House mega-panel cut short its inquiry into rice price manipulation and claimed that Martin Araneta was involved in the onion cartel that jacked up prices in 2022.

Tiu-Laurel said that Araneta never requested for any accommodations regarding importations of onions or any agricultural commodities.

“I’ve been in this office for two years, not once did Martin Araneta made a request for importation of onions or any agricultural commodities,” Tiu Laurel said in a mix of Filipino and English.

“Hindi ho katulad ni Zaldy Co (Unlike Zaldy Co),” he added.

In July 2023, the President ordered the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigated the alleged onion cartel and the smuggling and hoarding of other agricultural products. A year later, he signed the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act categorizing smuggling, hoarding, profiteering, and cartel operations of agricultural products as forms of economic sabotage.

Allegations vs Zaldy Co

Tiu Laurel said that during a meeting sometime in March 2024 at the Manila Polo Townhouse, Co requested for sugar import allocation amounting to 200,000 metric tons for a major importer that Co introduced to the DA chief at that time. In 2024, the Philippine government only allowed a total an importation of of 240,000 MT of refined sugar.

There was a similar scenario previously involving fish imports. In September, Tiu Laurel said Co asked him to approve fish import allocations for three fishing companies, two of which Tiu Laurel said had dubious background.

Apart from the First Lady and her brother, Co implicated the President’s son House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos in the budget insertion mess. According to Co, Sandro Marcos inserted billions in the 2023, 2024, and 2025 budgets amounting to P50.938 billion. The lawmaker denied the allegation.

– Rappler.com