Marcos appoints top donor Laurel as agriculture chief

Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., a major donor to President Marcos's campaign and president of Frabelle Fishing Corporation, was appointed as agriculture secretary on Friday.

Laurel dismissed claims that his appointment is a payback for his contributions, stating he has divested from his company and will have no conflicts of interest in his new role.

Critics, including fishers group Pamalakaya, raised concerns over potential conflicts due to Frabelle's involvement in Manila Bay reclamation projects.

X user Marco Terrado highlighted Frabelle's controversial Bacoor Reclamation project, while others questioned the appointment of businessmen for government roles.