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Tycoon denies DA appointment 'payback' for Marcos campaign donation

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Jervis Manahan, 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 — Fishing tycoon Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. on Monday responded to criticisms that his appointment as Department of Agriculture (DA) secretary was a &quot;payback&quot; for his contribution to the campaign fund of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. A report by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) showed Laurel is one of the top donors in Marcos&#x27; campaign. &quot;Definitely there is no payback. As I said, sacrifice na rin ito, it&#x27;s for the country talaga. Yun lang masasabi ko,&quot; Laurel told reporters during his first press conference. He also said there will be no conflict of interests as he has already divested from his deep-sea fishing company. <ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/11/03/23/palace-new-agri-chief-divested-interests-from-companies">Palace: New agri chief &#x27;divested interests from companies&#x27;</a></li></ul>&quot;Basically nag-divest na ako. I have no more interests in all the companies I used to own,&quot; he said.Laurel used to own Frabelle Corporation, whose main business is supplying fresh and processed seafood.It has further expanded to shipyard operations, canning, aquaculture, real estate, and power generation. &quot;DA is a full-time job. I have no time to do anything else. Malaki itong departamento, complicated nang konti, there are 28 bureaus and GOCCs. Wala akong time to think of other things,&quot; Laurel added. Fishers group Pamalakaya&#x27;s Ronnel Arambulo and other militant groups rallied in front of DA&#x27;s office on Monday, Laurel&#x27;s first official day. They hit Frabelle&#x27;s involvement in Manila Bay&#x27;s reclamation, which is against the interests of small fisherfolk.

A report by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) showed Francisco Laurel is one of the top donors in Marcos' campaign.

Tycoon denies DA appointment 'payback' for Marcos campaign donation

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Tycoon denies DA appointment 'payback' for Marcos campaign donation

Jervis Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published November 06, 2023 11:50 AM PHT

Read More:

DA

Department of Agriculture

agri

agriculture

conflict of interest

Francisco Tiu Laurel

Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr

Francisco Laurel

Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism

PCIJ

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