In a fresh round of explosive claims, resigned Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co has widened his accusationsโthis time pointing directly at First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and her brother Martin Araneta, alleging they intervened to shut down congressional probes into onion and rice price spikes that crippled Filipino households in 2022 and 2024.
In his newest โtell-allโ video, Co claimed the First Lady โpersonally intervenedโ to halt the 2022 House investigation into the onion crisis after her brother was tagged as part of an alleged onion cartel accused of manipulating prices and smuggling supply through favored importers. Co said Liza Araneta-Marcos allegedly called then-Speaker Martin Romualdez, asking him to shut down the inquiry once Martin Aranetaโs ties surfaced, particularly his supposed link with trader Michael Ma.
โThatโs why nobody was punished,โ Co said. โBecause the brother of the First Lady controls the importation of onions.โ
Co alleged the same pattern resurfaced in 2024, when the House launched a probe into rising rice pricesโmonths before the 2025 midterm elections. He claimed Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel asked lawmakers to halt the hearings after a confidential report supposedly linked the First Lady to a cartel of rice importers. Co further alleged that Rep. Sandro Marcos also called Romualdez โas instructed by the president,โ pressuring Congress to stop the inquiry.
These new accusations follow Coโs earlier claims of massive budget insertions involving the President, the First Ladyโs allies, and top House leadersโincluding billions allegedly traced to high-level kickbacks.
The Palace and the Marcos family have repeatedly dismissed Coโs allegations as fabrications, while critics warn that the former lawmakerโs videosโreleased while he remains abroad and evading arrestโmay be part of a broader destabilization campaign.
Image from pbbm.com.ph