Netizens are circulating two quote cards supposedly of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. disagreeing to stop pig importation and pushing for more native pig production. Both statements are fabricated.
Facebook users and pages started sharing copies of the fake quote cards on Dec. 13, with some creating reels reacting to the remarks attributed to Tiu Laurel.
The first graphic featured the secretary’s photo with this text:
“Hindi natin pwede itigil ang pag in (sic) import ng baboy malulugi ang gobvyerno (sic), jan tayo kumungua (sic) an (sic) pondo para may ayuda an (sic) mga farmers natin
(We cannot stop the importation of pigs because the government will lose money. That’s where we get our funds for our farmers’ assistance).”
Following this, a quote card was again attributed to Tiu Laurel where he supposedly said:
“Palalakasin natin ang production ng native pigs, dahil ito ang akma sa klima ng bansa. AGRICULTURE SECRETARY FRANCISCO TIU LAUREL JR. HINGGIL SA MATAAS NA PRESYO NG GALUNGGONG
(We will strengthen the production of native pigs, because they are best suited to the country’s climate. AGRICULTURE SECRETARY FRANCISCO TIU LAUREL JR. ON THE HIGH PRICE OF GALUNGGONG).”
FB users, especially those claiming to be from the hog industry, have criticized Tiu Laurel in the comment sections.
These quotes are fabricated. Tiu Laurel and the Department of Agriculture have since posted advisories disowning the quote cards. There are no legitimate reports of the secretary making such remarks either.
On Dec. 14, Tiu Laurel’s official FB page posted a statement clarifying that the secretary never uttered the specific remark on pig importation. This was later on reposted on the department’s official FB page.
Three days later, Tiu Laurel again debunked the other quote card on raising more native hogs.
In January, the DA released Memorandum Circular No. 2, Series of 2025, listing “comprehensive package for native and free-range pigs production” as part of the country’s recovery plan after the African Swine Fever outbreaks in recent years.
However, Tiu Laurel never made any statements promoting native pig production instead of the commercially available ones, as implied in some posts.
The fake quote cards started circulating five days after the DA imposed a temporary ban on live pigs, pork meat, pig skin and other related products from Taiwan due to a confirmed ASF outbreak.
At least seven FB posts carrying the fabricated quotes have so far garnered 1,014 reactions, 765 comments, 379 shares and 102,500 views.
