DA chief files raps vs Co, Baligod

MANILA, Philippines —  Following corruption accusations, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. yesterday filed separate cyberlibel cases against fugitive Zaldy Co and Levito Baligod, lawyer of the 18 alleged bagmen.

Tiu Laurel denied Baligod and the 18 men’s claims of his involvement in the alleged delivery of kickbacks in cash to state officials.

He belied anew Co’s claims last year of his alleged links to agricultural smuggling.

Asserting that he does not know Baligod nor the alleged former Marines, Tiu Laurel described the lawyer’s clients as “18 puppets.”

“They are claiming that they get money from me every week in a house in Forbes Park. But I last lived in that house in 2018,” he said.

Tiu Laurel explained he was able to file a case against Co only yesterday since he was busy with government work.

“(Co) is my enemy. I do not like Zaldy Co at all,” Tiu Laurel said, citing past interactions with Co, who had chaired the House appropriations committee.

He recalled denying all of Co’s request for agricultural import allocations, including fish and sugar, which led to Co slashing the budget of some of the Department of Agriculture’s key programs, such as rice.

“He was sabotaging us,” Tiu Laurel said.

Tiu Laurel filed the cases with the Makati prosecutor’s office.

“This (filing of complaints) is a waste of time, but we have to fight back because they are making us punching bags,” he said.  – EJ Macababbad, Josiah Antonio