BIZ BUZZ: Twisting his words
After reportedly saying that the Department of Agriculture (DA) and its attached agency, the National Food Authority, were among the most corrupt government agencies, Ombudsman Samuel Martires was quick to clarify that his pronouncement had been taken out of context.
“In fairness to them, I am not saying they are the most corrupt. No. When you talk about the most corrupt government agency, you have to consider agencies beyond those located [at] Quezon Memorial Circle,” Martires said in an interview with DZRH.
Martires said DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has been highly cooperative with the Office of the Ombudsman in ongoing investigations into certain DA agencies, often providing advance reports to his office.
He also lauded the new DA chief’s efforts to eliminate smuggling and other unlawful practices, such as strengthening the Inspectorate and Enforcement Division amid concerns on rice and onion smuggling.
Tiu Laurel welcomed Martires’ clarification as he vowed to end unfair trade practices and other illegal activities that harm the agriculture sector.
”I can confidently say that since I assumed office, we have worked tirelessly to clean our ranks,” Tiu Laurel said on Wednesday.
“We will not stand idly by while anyone—inside or outside the DA—attempts to undermine the law,” he added.
Since assuming the top DA post in November 2023, Tiu Laurel said the agency has apprehended and confiscated billions of pesos worth of smuggled goods, blacklisted almost a dozen unscrupulous importers and filed charges against some of them.
Tiu Laurel assured the Filipino people that the DA would stop at nothing to combat corruption and smuggling activities, citing ongoing policy reforms within the agency.
But with four years left in the Marcos administration, can the agency truly end all illicit acts that have plagued the farm sector over the years?
