DA chief denies false reports on educational background: 'I never finished my education'
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. clarified he never finished education as he addressed reports stating that he graduated from the University of Santo Tomas.
"Let me clear the air about my educational background given news reports that claim I am an alumnus of the University of Santo Tomas or any other institution of higher learning. That is not true,” he said in a statement.
"I never finished my education because I became a father at 19. I needed to work to support my eldest child. My father impressed upon me that my responsibility as a father comes first," he added.
Laurel said that while he intended to go to college, the duties he had to fulfill in his career and his family life kept him from doing so. They prompted him to make a living to maintain his family's company, Frabelle, which has been supplying frozen and processed seafood products to both domestic and international markets since it was launched in 1966.
"Like many, I dreamt of wearing a toga and receiving a diploma. But that wasn’t meant to be. The sea became my university, experiences in life taught me the value of perseverance, my children gave me the courage and inspiration to get to where I am now, and the good fortune I have today, I enjoy through God’s grace," Laurel continued.
This comes after The Varsitarian, UST's official student publication, reported on Nov. 12 that the Agri chief did not graduate from their university with a degree in Computer Science and stressed that the Registrar's Office found no records of his enrollment.
"Based on our records in the Office of the Registrar, agriculture secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. is not a UST Computer Science alumnus,” Assistant Registrar Kashmer Cruz told the school outlet.
"The Office of the Registrar and the accounting department did not find any record of enrollment in the University of the name Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr.," the university's registrar’s office supervisor Reynaldo Isidro also said.
Laurel’s chief of staff, Alvin Balagbag, confirmed to The Varsitarian that Laurel "did not attend nor graduate from UST."
His supposed educational achievements have been previously reported by various news outlets and stated in official documents. A file submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission by Pure Energy Holdings, Corp., where Laurel served as a director and shareholder, described Laurel as someone with a "Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from the University of Santo Tomas."
The Varsitarian also highlighted other documents mentioning Laurel's supposed degree in Computer Science from the said university, including a short biography of Tuna Think Tank members, facilitators, and organizers published by the World Wildlife Fund and an article from the University of the Philippines Visayas.
Laurel took oath as the newly appointed Secretary of the Department of Agriculture on Nov. 3, almost a year and a half after President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. took the DA secretary post when he became president in June 2022.