DA chief tags Co in fish import allocations

Something smells fishy with Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co’s affairs —first the alleged ties to anomalous flood control projects, and now, reportedly trying to influence a government agency for fish import permits.

- By DELON PORCALLA

Department of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on Monday disclosed before lawmakers that Co forced the DA to issue importation permits to his three companies engaged in the business of fishing.

“We were being forced at the time to give him 3,000 containers of fish, which I did not agree to,” Tiu Laurel said.

Tiu Laurel made the revelation during his agency’s budget deliberations, appearing alongside other DA officials before the House appropriations committee headed by Nueva Ecija 1st district Rep. Mikaela Suansing.