Ombudsman Samuel Martires has distanced himself from media reports suggesting that he singled out the Department of Agriculture (DA), particularly its attached agency, the National Food Authority (NFA), as the most corrupt government agency. He clarified that his statement had been taken out of context.
“In fairness to the new leadership of the Department of Agriculture, since the issue of rice and onion smuggling was investigated, the new head of the agency, Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., has strengthened the DA’s Inspectorate and Enforcement Division. As seen in the news, they’ve already apprehended four cases of agricultural smuggling in Subic,” Martires explained in an interview on DZRH, conducted primarily in the vernacular.
Martires emphasized that Secretary Tiu Laurel has been highly cooperative in the ongoing investigations into certain DA agencies, often providing his office with advance reports.
“In fairness to them (the DA and NFA), I am not saying they are the most corrupt. No. When you talk about the most corrupt government agency, you have to consider agencies beyond those located in Quezon Memorial Circle,” he added.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. welcomed the Ombudsman’s clarification.
“I can confidently say that since I assumed office, we have worked tirelessly to clean our ranks. We have been fully cooperative with the Ombudsman—and this has been attested to—in its ongoing investigations into alleged corruption within the DA,” said Secretary Tiu Laurel, who took office in November 2023.
The DA chief expressed his commitment to integrity, citing his decision to enforce preventive suspensions issued by the Ombudsman in early 2024 against 139 NFA officials and employees due to their alleged involvement in the unlawful sale of rice buffer stocks. This move came despite significant operational disruptions and potential risks to food security.
Most of the suspended NFA employees were eventually allowed to return to work, but senior officials were replaced. Secretary Tiu Laurel appointed Larry Lacson as the new NFA head in March 2024. As the NFA Council’s chairman, he also initiated efforts to overhaul internal procedures, minimizing corruption risks.
Under his leadership, the DA strengthened the capability of its Inspectorate and Enforcement unit, which resulted in the apprehension and seizure of billions of pesos worth of smuggled goods, including rice, meat, fish, fruits, and vegetables. This effectively protected local farmers against unfair trade practices and safeguarded the public from potential health risks. The IE unit also sought to blacklist several importers and helped file legal complaints against them.
Most recently, vigilance from DA officials, particularly from the Bureau of Plant Industry, led to the confiscation of several containers of frozen mackerel, underscoring the department’s determination to protect the country’s food safety.
“We’ve also blacklisted nearly a dozen unscrupulous importers and have filed charges with various prosecutors’ offices within the Department of Justice. We will not stand idly by while anyone—inside or outside the DA—attempts to undermine the law,” he added, underscoring his resolve to combat corruption.
Secretary Tiu Laurel also highlighted ongoing policy reforms aimed at curbing corruption and smuggling. He initiated changes to the rules governing the Minimum Access Volume for pork to stabilize prices, while the suspension of round scad (locally known as galunggong) imports under Fisheries Administrative Order 195 aims to prevent the diversion of fish meant for institutional buyers to public markets.
The revitalized Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council, now led by former Agriculture Undersecretary Ernesto Ordonez, is helping oversee DA procurement processes and project implementation, further strengthening accountability within the agency. ###
