Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. filed separate cyberlibel cases against fugitive Zaldy Co and lawyer Levito Baligod, representing 18 alleged bagmen. The action follows corruption accusations. Laurel denied claims of his involvement in kickbacks and smuggling.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. filed separate cyberlibel cases yesterday at the Makati prosecutor’s office against fugitive Zaldy Co and Levito Baligod, lawyer for 18 alleged bagmen whom Laurel called “18 puppets,” former Marines. The complaints stem from claims by Baligod and his clients of Laurel’s role in delivering cash kickbacks to state officials, as well as Co’s prior accusations of Laurel’s links to agricultural smuggling. “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,” Laurel said. He stated he does not know Baligod or his clients. The case against Co was filed only yesterday due to Laurel’s busy government duties. “(Co) is my enemy. I do not like Zaldy Co at all,” he added. Laurel recalled denying Co’s requests for agricultural import allocations, including fish and sugar, when Co chaired the House appropriations committee; this led Co to cut budgets for Department of Agriculture programs like rice. “He was sabotaging us,” Laurel said. “This (filing of complaints) is a waste of time, but we have to fight back because they are making us punching bags,” he concluded. — EJ Macababbad, Josiah Antonio
