Palace: New agri chief 'divested interests from companies'

Pia Gutierrez, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr takes oath as Secretary of the Department of Agriculture." src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/news/11/03/marcos-11032023.jpg"/><figcaption>Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr takes oath as Secretary of the Department of Agriculture.</figcaption></figure></div> MANILA — Newly-appointed Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. has “divested his interests from his companies,” Malacañang said Friday.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/03/23/fishing-tycoon-francisco-tiu-laurel-jr-named-agriculture-chief">Marcos gives up agri portfolio, appoints fishing tycoon as agriculture chief</a></li></ul>The Palace issued the statement following concerns on conflict of interest with the new Department of Agriculture (DA) chief. “As per Sec. Laurel, he already divested his interests from his companies,” Presidential Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil said in a text message to Malacañang reporters. Prior to his appointment, the billionaire fishing tycoon headed the Frabelle Fishing Corporation and served as chairman and president of the Agusan Power Corporation. He was also president of Frabelle Shipyard Corporation, chairman of Westpac Meat Processing Corporation, director of Frabelle Properties Corporation, president of Markham Resources Corporation, chairman of Diamond Export Corporation, president of Bacoor Seafront Development Corporation, and chairman/president of Bukidnon Hydro Energy Corporation.The President said Laurel understood the different facets of agriculture and had worked in the sector for &quot;a very long time.&quot;Marcos said he was banking on the new DA chief to form strategies to mitigate climate change&#x27;s impact on farmers and fisherfolk.

The Palace issued the statement following concerns of conflict of interest with the new Department of Agriculture chief.

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Palace: New agri chief 'divested interests from companies'

Palace: New agri chief 'divested interests from companies'

Pia Gutierrez,

ABS-CBN News

Published Nov 03, 2023 05:24 PM PHT

Read More:

Palace

DA

agri

agriculture

Francisco Tiu Laurel

Department of Agriculture

conflict of interest

Frabelle Fishing Corporation

ANC

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