Navotas City Lone District Representative Toby Tiangco has publicly claimed that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. recently became angry at former House Speaker and Leyte 1st District Representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and former Ako Bicol Partylist Representative Zaldy Co over what he described as “sobrang korapsyon” in the House of Representatives.
In a television interview on Saturday, November 15, Tiangco recounted what he said was a meeting between President Marcos and Romualdez in November 2024.
“Pinatawag kami, it was a family Sunday lunch,” he began.
“When I arrived there, wala si former Speaker Martin Romualdez. Pinatawag niya [PBBM], I think he get invited that time. Dumating siya [Romualdez] doon and after lunch, pinapasok kami doon sa parang office ni [PBBM] . Pag-upong pag-upo namin, nagalit siya[…]” he added.
Tiangco said he witnessed the President’s sudden anger toward Romualdez and Co over their alleged diversion of funds from the House of Representatives.
“Pag-upo namin, sabi niya, ‘Martin, kayo ni Zaldy, kinukuha n’yo lahat ng pera ng executive branch. ‘Yong mga flagship projects, kinukuha n’yo ‘yong mga pondo. Kaya’t tatlong taon na ako dito, wala pa akong napapagawa dahil sobra na kayo sa Congress at sobra ang corruption diyan sa inyo sa Congress,’” Tiangco narrated.
He further quoted the President as saying, “at sabi niya [ni PBBM], ‘alam mo na wala akong natatanggap diyan,’”
Following the meeting, Tiangco said Romualdez allegedly assured Marcos that the flagship projects and other needed items in the budget would be restored. But according to Tiangco, these commitments were not fulfilled.
“Ang nangyari noong January, hindi na-restore, hindi naman natupad ‘yon[…] tinanggal namin si Zaldy Co as [Appropriation] chairman,” he said.
He added, “After that[…], sinabi ko na dati pa, pina-hold niya lahat ng items na pumasok sa insertion[…] Kaya nga ako nasama sa gulong ito dahil sa akin pinaaral kung ano ‘yong mga insertions na ‘yon.”
Tiangco also claimed that, “I know as of July 29, parang 80 plus billion [pesos] ‘yong hindi na mare-release out of 209 na insertion ng House of the Representative.”
As of now, neither the Office of the President nor Romualdez has issued a statement regarding these allegations.