Zaldy Co links First Lady Liza to agri importation rackets

Former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co has accused First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos of allegedly intervening to stop congressional inquiries into the soaring prices of onions and rice in recent years, supposedly to protect her and her brother's interests in the industry.

In his latest video message released on Wednesday, Co alleged that the First Lady and her brother, Martin Araneta, were reportedly profiting from agricultural imports.

“The profits from onion importation were handled by Martin Araneta, brother of First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos,” Co said in Filipino.

According to a "24 Oras" report by Tina Panganiban Perez, Co claimed that Araneta had control over onion imports during the time that prices surged to as high as P600 per kilo.

“But the investigation did not proceed. The (former) Speaker said the First Lady called and ordered that it be stopped.” Co said.

Co said a House investigation into the onion price spike was halted after then-Speaker Martin Romualdez supposedly received a call from the First Lady instructing him to halt the proceedings.

The former lawmaker made a similar allegation regarding the House probe on rising rice prices.

Co said the inquiry being led by then Albay Rep. Joey Salceda was abruptly stopped after Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. showed members of Congress a confidential report supposedly detailing the First Lady’s influence over rice importers.

According to Co, Laurel had supposedly lawmakers warned that continuing the House probe would “affect” the First Lady, since she and rice importers were together in a recent trip to Vietnam.

The former Ako Bicol lawmaker also alleged that presidential son and Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos called Romualdez on the same day, supposedly relaying instructions from the President to stop the House investigation into rice prices.

He added that Romualdez even reprimanded Laurel at a meeting at the Manila Polo Club in Makati for supposedly releasing the confidential report that “implicated” the First Lady in an alleged rice importation racket.

Laurel supposedly apologized, saying he had been thrust into a “difficult” situation.

According to Co, only a handful of companies were supposedly granted permits to import during lean months.

“These companies control fish prices, which is why galunggong remains expensive,” Co said.

GMA Integrated News has reached out to the First Lady, Representatives Sandro Marcos and Martin Romualdez, and Martin Araneta, and will post their responses once available.

In a statement, Laurel dismissed Co’s claims, calling them fabricated and good only for Netflix.

He also described Co as a “bad person.”— MCG, GMA Integrated News