Palace debunks Senator Imee’s claims on imported agri products

Malacañang called Senator Imee Marcos’ claims on imported agricultural products as fake news, saying there is no truth about the alleged importation of vegetable products. “As far as Secretary Tui Laurel Jr. is concerned, yes, it’s fake news,” Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said when asked to comment on the senator’s remark that the Department of Agriculture (DA) should instead be called “Department of Angkat (Importation).” The senator lamented the alleged importation of vegetables despite the local oversupply of goods. “Nakausap po mismo natin si Secretary Kiko Laurel Jr., kasama natin siya sa UPLIFT Committee meeting at nabanggit po natin iyang isyu na iyan. At ang sinabi po niya, ay wala pong katotohanan ang sinasabi ni Senator Imee Marcos, hindi po daw nag-aangkat ang DA ng repolyo (We were able to speak directly with Secretary Kiko Laurel Jr.; he was with us at the UPLIFT Committee meeting, and we brought up that issue. He said that what Senator Imee Marcos is claiming is not true, the Department of Agriculture is not importing cabbage),” Castro said in a Palace briefing on Tuesday, May 5. Castro also questioned where the Senator’s information is coming from, describing the claims as baseless. “Iyon nga po, hindi po ba dapat tanungin ninyo muna si Senator Imee, sa bawat salita niya, saan ba nanggagaling ang kanyang mga binabanggit na mga ganitong klaseng mga kwento na wala namang pinanggagalingan (Exactly, shouldn’t you be asking Senator Imee first, for every statement she makes, where the things she’s saying are coming from—these kinds of stories that don’t seem to have any basis)?” Castro said. Meanwhile, President Marcos ordered the DA to bring down the prices of rice in the country. According to Laurel, there is enough supply of rice in the country and there is no need to bring the prices up.