Jamaine Punzalan

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. answers questions during a press conference, June 25, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

Article (news)

Johnson Manabat

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177388743221020240625-laurel-francisco-agri-sec-JC-5.jpg" style="width:960px;display:block;height:auto" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. answers questions during a press conference, June 25, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr. filed Thursday separate cyber libel complaints against former lawmaker Zaldy Co and lawyer Levito Baligod. </p><p>Tiu-Laurel said his complaint against Baligod stemmed from his submission of the affidavit of supposed former Marines, who claimed to have delivered suitcases of cash to several public officials. </p><p>Meanwhile, Co last year tagged Tiu-Laurel in supposed importation irregularities, which the agriculture chief said were fabricated lies.</p><p>“Puro kasinungalingan yung kanilang pinagsasabi sa affidavit at purely walang katotohanan, it’s purely fiction,” Tiu-Laurel said of the former Marines’ claims. </p><p>“Tapos yung kay Zaldy Co naman, I did a press statement on that - ngayon lang nagkaroon ng oras para filan so pinagsabay ko na kasi talagang sobra na yung paninira ng mga yan,” he told reporters. </p><p>“Kailangan na lumaban eh, kasi sumosobra na sila,” he added. </p><p>Tiu-Laurel denied the allegations by Baligod and Co. </p><p>He noted that he no longer lives in Forbes Park in Makati City where the alleged suitcases of money came from. </p><p>“Unang-una, 2018 pa ako hindi nakatira doon. I live in another place in Makati, not in that village at all. So yun lang, palpak na eh. I don’t know any of those 18,” Tiu-Laurel said.</p><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F1375523907946992%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div><p>Addressing the supposed former soldiers, he said: “Tell the truth. Kung maninira kayo, sana naman may hint na lang ng katotohanan, hindi yung pure fabrication…so kailangan eh managot sila.” </p><p>“Sabihin n’yo na yung totoo para hindi kayo gamitin ng mga, kung sino man ang nasa likod niyan,” he said.   </p><p>His lawyer Rovinna Yap clarified that the so-called 18 marines were not included in her client’s cyber libel complaints. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/17/baligod-says-statements-made-by-18-ex-marines-are-eyewitness-accounts-2222">Baligod says statements made by 18 &#x27;ex-Marines&#x27; are eyewitness accounts</a></div><div><iframe width="725" height="408" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/odvJGuCHHCA" title="Why Ombudsman is insisting on 18 separate affidavits for 18 ex-Marines | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><iframe width="726" height="408" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/n-ymCMROsl4" title="What &#x27;ex-Marines&#x27; said after facing NBI | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr. filed Thursday separate cyber libel complaints against former lawmaker Zaldy Co and lawyer Levito Baligod.</p>

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr. filed Thursday separate cyber libel complaints against former lawmaker Zaldy Co and lawyer Levito Baligod.

Agri chief files cyber libel complaints vs Zaldy Co, Baligod

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Agri chief files cyber libel complaints vs Zaldy Co, Baligod

Johnson Manabat,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 19, 2026 10:32 AM PHT

|

Updated March 19, 2026 12:24 PM PHT

Read More:

Tiu Laurel

Baligod

Zaldy Co

cyber libel

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