Dennis Gasgonia

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Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — A co-chairperson and a member of the 19th Congress House Quinta Committee denied on Thursday the claim of former congressman Zaldy Co that there were orders to halt the House inquiries into the high prices of rice and onion in consideration of the First Lady.</p><p>In a video on his social media page on Wednesday, Co claimed that First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos tried to stop the House inquiry into soaring onion prices in 2022, on behalf of her brother Martin, whom Co accused of “controlling” onion importation. </p><p>The former congressman further claimed that House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos and Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel sought to stop the House Quinta Comm probe into rice prices as it could “affect” the First Lady.</p><div><a href="http://Zaldy Co links First Lady Liza Marcos to alleged anomalies in rice, onion importation">Zaldy Co links First Lady Liza Marcos to alleged anomalies in rice, onion importation</a></div><p>House Quinta Comm Co-Chair Rep. Mark Enverga tagged Co’s claims as “baseless, illogical, absurd, and completely contradicted by facts”.</p><p>“On rice importation and smuggling, the House of Representatives—through the Quinta Committee—conducted multiple full hearings to address high prices and supply chain irregularities. At no point was there any instruction, letter or directive from any official to suspend or halt the inquiry,” Enverga said in a statement. </p><p>“The Department of Agriculture fully supported the process, and Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel personally attended several hearings. The committee completed its work and submitted a full investigation report,” he added.</p><p>“On onion smuggling, the Committee on Agriculture and Food held 11 extensive and often grueling hearings that firmly established the existence of an onion cartel. As a direct result, a case has been filed before the Philippine Competition Commission. No individual or office ever attempted to stop or interfere with this inquiry,” Enverga said. </p><p>He urged the public to be “discerning”, stressing that Co’s claims have “no basis in the official records and should not be taken as fact”.</p><p>House Assistant Majority Leader Zia Alonto Adiong corroborated Enverga’s statement.</p><p>“There was no order of such sort,” he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/26/marcos-jr-zaldy-co-trying-to-negotiate-with-government-to-keep-passport-1301"><strong></strong>Marcos Jr.: Zaldy Co tried to &#x27;blackmail&#x27; admin to keep passport </a></div><p>Adiong added that he does not remember a “Martin Araneta” was mentioned in the investigations, as Co claimed.</p><p>“I cannot remember any name with that sound and form na lumabas,” Adiong said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/27/liza-marcos-underscores-focus-on-teaching-how-law-truly-works-over-theatrics-1302">Liza Marcos underscores focus on teaching ‘how law truly works’ over ‘theatrics’</a></div><p>He shared House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos’s view that Co’s allegations against members of the First Family sought to<a href="http://Sandro Marcos says ready to face ICI ‘any time’ after Zaldy Co claims"> destabilize the government</a> to evade accountability on his alleged involvement in anomalous flood control projects.</p><p>“By using our own common sense, it would draw us to that conclusion. Kasi may effort talaga calling for the President to step down and with all these revelations attacking the President. So, it&#x27;s not far-fetched for any ordinary individual or common na tao… to think that this might be part of an overall destabilization attempt,” Adiong said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/27/zaldy-co-lawyer-denies-blackmail-attempt-vs-marcos-gov-t-1119">&#x27;Ridiculous&#x27;: Zaldy Co lawyer denies blackmail attempt vs Marcos gov&#x27;t over passport cancellation</a></div><div><iframe width="727" height="409" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xdmrwjw5idk" title="Zaldy Co idinawit si First Lady Marcos sa umano&#x27;y anomalya sa importasyon | TV Patrol" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><iframe width="727" height="409" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WrpbnLiFzHM" title="&#x27;Story fit for Netflix&#x27;: Agri chief denies Zaldy Co&#x27;s allegations vs First Lady | ANC" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>A co-chairperson and a member of the 19th Congress House Quinta Committee denied on Thursday the claim of former congressman Zaldy Co that there were orders to halt the House inquiries into the high prices of rice and onion in consideration of the first lady.</p>

A co-chairperson and a member of the 19th Congress House Quinta Committee denied on Thursday the claim of former congressman Zaldy Co that there were orders to halt the House inquiries into the high prices of rice and onion in consideration of the first lady.

House members deny Zaldy Co’s claim on order to halt probe into rice, onion

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House members deny Zaldy Co’s claim on order to halt probe into rice, onion

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published November 27, 2025 04:11 PM PHT

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