Alcala denies being a member of 'Quezon mafia'

MANILA -- Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala on Tuesday denied being a member of the so-called Quezon mafia along with some of his associates and kin from the province. In a Philippine Daily Inquirer report published on Saturday, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) secretary general Antonio Flores named the other members of the "Quezon mafia" as: DA Undersecretary for finance and administration Antonio Fleta; Arnulfo Mañalac who allegeldy served as Alcala's administrator for the Sariaya Bagsakan Center in 2007; DA Assistant Secretary Ed de Luna; Philippine Coconut Authority Administrator and Alcala legal consultant Euclides G. Forbes; Claro Maranan of the National Irrigation Administration; Alcala’s former congressional chief of staff and National Food Administrator Roland Calayag; Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources director Asis Perez; Bureau of Plant Industry director Lito Baron; Philippine Fishing Development Authority director Rodrigo Jimenez, and Agri Technical Insititute director Nicomedes Eleazar. According to the report, a source said Fleta, De Luna, Forbes, Maranan and Mañalac are longtime associates of Alcala from his political bailiwick, Quezon, while Perez, Baron, Eleazar and Maranan are related to the DA chief by blood or affinity. In an interview with ANC's "Headstart," Alcala said he is hurt over the allegations. He also denied being related by affinity to any of the names mentioned by Flores. "Napakasakit naman na pagbintangan ka na mafia ka. Hindi naman po tayo ganoon," Alcala said. ANC Headstart, October 1, 2013