Former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co has raised serious allegations against First Lady Liza Marcos, accusing her of controlling the importation of key agricultural goods like rice, onions, and sugar, and using her influence to manipulate prices in favor of powerful interests. Co claims that the First Lady’s involvement in these sectors has led to artificially inflated prices for essential commodities, which are then passed on to the public.
Co alleges that SOP (standard operating procedure) collections at the Bureau of Customs amounted to ₱11 billion, with a significant portion of this coming from sugar importations. Co further claims that Martin Araneta, the brother of First Lady Liza Marcos, was responsible for controlling the importation of onions. He says that in 2022, the price of onions surged to an unprecedented ₱600 per kilo, far exceeding the typical market price of ₱80 per kilo.
In response to this price spike, Co claims that Congressman Toto Suansing led an investigation into the onion price hike, but this was abruptly stopped after First Lady Liza Marcos allegedly intervened. According to Co, the First Lady personally contacted Speaker Martin Romualdez and instructed him to halt the investigation, despite evidence linking Martin Araneta to the price manipulation. “Tinawagan daw siya ni First Lady Liza Marcos at ipinapatigil ang imbestigasyon,” Co said, pointing to the First Lady’s control over the situation as the key reason why no action was taken against those responsible.
Co’s accusations against the First Lady extend to the rice sector as well. In April 2023, when the price of rice began rising sharply, Co claims he proposed to Speaker Romualdez that the government should import 13 million metric tons of rice to lower the price to ₱22 per kilo. However, Co alleges that President Bongbong Marcos rejected the proposal during a meeting in Clark, and as a result, rice prices soared to ₱55 per kilo by 2024.
In 2024, Co and Romualdez again proposed reducing rice tariffs from 35% to 15% to alleviate the price burden on the public. While the reduction was eventually approved, Co claims that rice prices did not decrease as expected. Co then suggested that an official investigation be launched through the Quinta Committee, led by Congressman Joey Salceda, to examine the cause of the continued high rice prices. However, Co says that this investigation was stopped after Secretary Kiko Laurel Chiu presented a confidential report that implicated First Lady Liza Marcos in the rice importation issue.
Co alleges that after the report was shown, Secretary Chiu was reprimanded by Speaker Romualdez, and First Lady Liza Marcos’s role in the rice price manipulation was downplayed. Co claims that Sandro Marcos, the son of the President, also intervened to stop the investigation. “Dumating din si Secretary Laurel Chiu sa Manila Polo Townhouse at doon siya pinagalitan ni Speaker dahil inilabas niya ang confidential report na nagdidiin sa First Lady sa issue ng rice smuggling,” Co said. This, according to Co, was when it became clear that the Marcos family’s control over the rice industry was preventing any further investigation into the issue.
Co’s allegations extend beyond rice and onions to include fish importation, which he claims is also controlled by a few companies. He says that these companies are favored by the government, receiving permits to import while other, more legitimate importers are excluded. Co suggests that this monopolistic control over essential goods contributes to the rising prices of both rice and fish, and exacerbates the financial struggles of ordinary Filipinos.
“Ang pinakamakapangyarihang pamilya pa mismo ang sangkot sa ganitong sistema,” Co said, accusing the Marcos family of controlling key sectors in the country for their benefit. He further asserts that this level of influence and control has allowed them to manipulate prices and maintain power over critical industries, all at the expense of the Filipino people.
Co’s detailed accusations paint a picture of a government where powerful families, led by the First Lady, have too much control over essential industries, leading to unfair pricing and widespread corruption. “Wala silang malasakit sa taong bayan lalo na sa mga mahihirap,” Co concluded, highlighting the abuse of power for personal gain, which he claims continues to harm the most vulnerable sectors of society.
