DA: Zaldy Co demanded fish import allocation permits for 3 firms
MANILA, Philippines — Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said Rep. Elizaldy Co (Ako Bicol Party-list) attempted to force the agency to grant fish import permits to three companies he nominated to receive allocation.
During the Department of Agriculture’s House budget hearing on Monday, September 15, Rep. Terry Ridon (Bicol Saro Party-list) asked the agency about their top galunggong importers, revealing how Rep. Toby Tiangco’s (Navotas, Lone District) family is one of them.
Tiu Laurel, however, explained that Trans-Pacific Journey Fishing Corp. (TPJ) has been one of the companies catching the most fish and has been in the industry for decades, making them worthy of becoming one of the top importers. It is performance-based, he said.
“If you want me to really comment on that, I think they deserve what they are getting because they are the pinakamalaking nilaland talaga (they land the most fish) eh. This is very scientific, so wala ako nakikitang issue,” Tiu Laurel added.
Ridon asked if the DA did not conduct any conflict of interest checks, Tiu Laurel stood firm that it only made sense to grant allocations to TPJ Fishing Corp because it was “scientific.”
It was at this point that the DA chief shared personal experiences he had in the agriculture industry, including “absurd” cases in the importation of fish, even before he took charge.
“Bago ako pumasok, they were allowing unloading in private ports na kung sino lang maglista-lista at ang rami kong tinanggal na listahan dahil maraming kalokohan,” he said.
(Before I joined, they were allowing unloading in private ports just by anyone listed down and I had a lot to remove because there was a lot of nonsense.)
Zaldy Co's demand
One of those cases involved Co requesting allocation from the agency despite there being a formula to follow. Tiu Laurel originally did not want to name the congressman before the committee.
“Sa totoo lang, nung panahon 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,” he said.
(Actually, before my time in the fish importation, and I don't want to say because there was also a congressman who asked me for a lot of allocations and I didn't give him any fish. And his name was Zaldy Co.)
Tiu Laurel said Co demanded allocations worth 3,000 containers of fish for three companies, including one named ZC Victory Fishing Corp, but he did not allow it.
“Hindi ako pumayag na magbigay kahit isang container sa kanya, sa tatlong nominated companies niya. … At ang isang kompanya doon pangalan pa ZC Victory Fishing Corp.,” he added.
(I did not allow even a single container to be given to him or the three nominated companies. … One of those companies was named ZC Victory Fishing Corporation.)
No conflict of interest? Ridon then asked him if he thinks Co faces a conflict of interest, but the DA chief said it doesn’t necessarily seem to be the case.
“Nasabi ko lang we were forced at that time to give him 3,000 containers of fish, which I did not agree [to],” Tiu Laurel said.
(I just said we were forced at that time to give him 3,000 containers of fish, which I did not agree to.)
“Well, pinipilit niya kami mag-issue ng import permit while we already have a formula, which ito nga ‘yung formula na lumabas and it is very clear na fair ‘to scientifically. The data speaks for itself and kaya ko panindigan ‘to,” he added.
(Well, he forced us to issue an import permit while we already have a formula. This is the formula that cropped up and it is very clear that it is fair scientifically. The date speaks for itself and I can stand by it.)
Why Co?
Co has been under fire for the alleged 2025 budget insertions after serving as the House appropriations chair in the 19th Congress.
But with investigations into anomalous flood control projects, Co is facing more scrutiny for his ties with top contractors Sunwest Inc., which he founded, and Hi-Tone Construction, which his brother also co-founded.
Co was invited to attend the House flood control probe to address claims surrounding alleged kickbacks and budget insertions related to flood control. He has been in the United States seeking medical treatment amid the pressing issues.
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