Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr. dismissed accusations by resigned Ako-Bicol Party-list representative Zaldy Co linking First Lady Liza Marcos to alleged anomalies in rice and onion importation.
In a media interview yesterday, Tiu-Laurel described the allegations as “total baloney” and a “script fit for Netflix.”
“The only thing he said that was true was that we talked about lowering the tariff,” he said
He clarified that Co was not the only one who made the suggestion, noting that several others proposed it as well.
“And it is not true that he suggested it alone, marami ang nag-suggest. Ang recommendation niya actually was zero tariff, not 15 percent,” he added.
Earlier, in a video posted on his social media page, Co alleged that the First Lady attempted to halt the House inquiry into the rising onion prices in 2022.
He claimed this was done on behalf of her brother, Martin Araneta, whom the former congressman accused of “controlling” onion importation.
