Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. refuted resigned Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co.’s claims that first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos was involved in agricultural smuggling, and that she had intervened in a congressional inquiry into rising food prices.
In a press briefing on Thursday, Tiu Laurel said the former legislator’s corruption allegations were a ‘fabricated lie.’
Tiu Laurel denied allegations that the first lady had meddled with matters related to the Department of Agriculture (DA), and that his brother, Martin Araneta, had been involved in onion importation or smuggling issues. ‘Netflix series’
‘It’s total baloney. Sinabi ko nga parang scripts sa Netflix series. Talagang ang galing. puwede mo siyang tawaging mananahi e. Ang galing magtahi ng kuwento,’ the DA chief said.
(I even said it’s like scripts from a Netflix series. He’s so good. You can call him a scriptwriter. He’s great at stitching stories together.) The agriculture chief said Co’s ‘tell-all’ videos were to serve his own agenda, rather than an avowed concern for the welfare of the Filipino people and agricultural producers.
‘Zaldy Co, ang masasabi ko sa ‘yo, umuwi ka na. Harapin mo na. Iyan ang panawagan ng mamamayang Pilipino,’ he added.
(Zaldy Co, all I can say to you is, go home. Face the accusations against you. That’s the appeal of the Filipino people.)