Zaldy Co ‘forced’ DA to give import permits to 3 fishing firms, says Tiu Laurel 

Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co allegedly forced the Department of Agriculture (DA) to issue importation permits to his three companies, said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on Monday. 

The DA chief told the House Committee on Appropriations that the lawmaker who is currently in the United States sought a massive volume of fish containers. 

“We were being forced at that time to give him 3,000 containers of fish, which I did not agree to,” said Tiu Laurel during the hearing on the proposed budget of the department for next year. 

“Pinipilit niya kami mag-issue ng import permit while we already have a formula. Which, ito na nga iyong formula na lumabas and it is very clear na fair ito scientifically, the data speaks for itself, at kaya kong tindigan ito,” he added. 

Tiu Laurel brought up Co’s name after Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon asked the DA about the status of importation of fish, particularly of galunggong, in the country. The DA secretary later mentioned that there were problems when it came to fish landing in ports. 

“Bago ako pumasok, they are allowing unloading in private ports na kung sino lang maglista-lista at ang rami kong tinanggal na listahan dahil maraming kalokohan,” said Tiu Laurel. “Sa totoo lang, before my time, sa importation ng isda at ayaw ko nang sabihin kasi mayroon din isang congressman na humingi sa akin ng maraming allocation at hindi ko pinagbigyan ng isda, at ang pangalan nun ay Zaldy Co.” 

Tiu Laurel said that he did not heed Co’s request for import allocations to his nominated companies. 

“I only have personal knowledge on the three companies he wanted me to give allocation kahit na may formula na kami. Hindi ako pumayag magbigay ng kahit isang container sa kanya, sa tatlong nominated companies niya. At ang isang kumpanya doon, pangalan pa ZC Victory Fishing Corporation,” he said. 

GMA News Online is trying to reach out to Co for a comment. 

Conflict of interest? 

Meanwhile, Ridon pointed out that the Trans-Pacific Journey Fishing Corporation - a company owned by the family of Navotas Lone District Rep. Toby Tiangco - is one of the country’s top fish importers. 

The lawmaker asked Tiu Laurel if there is a conflict of interest given that the Tiangcos owned the fishing firm while the Navotas congressman served as the chairperson of the House Committee on Aquaculture and Fisheries in the previous Congress. 

“Don’t you find any conflict of interest that the Tiangcos are importing the largest galunggong for this round?” Ridon asked. 

“Well, if you want me to really comment on that, I think they deserve what they are getting because ang pinakamalaking nila-land talaga. This is very scientific and everything, wala akong nakikitang issue,” Tiu Laurel responded. 

The DA chief added that the allocation for fish importation is performance-based.

"Their family has been in fishing for more than 60 years. So it is performance-based, Mr. Chair. Technically, kung sino ang pinakamaraming na land, recorded ng PFDA ‘yan, nagbabayad ng buwis ‘yan, they should get the biggest allocation,” said Tiu Laurel. —LDF, GMA Integrated News