President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. personally confronted his cousin, former House Speaker and Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez, over allegations that House leaders diverted public funds for pet projects, and ordered the money returned to unprogrammed funds—an order that was never fulfilled, Navotas City Lone District Representative Toby Tiangco revealed.
In a television interview, Tiangco recounted a tense post-lunch meeting where Marcos summoned both him and Romualdez, describing a heated exchange that reflected the President’s growing frustration.
Tiangco said Marcos sarcastically questioned Romualdez over alleged excesses.
“‘Ilang bahay ba ang… Martin, kayo ni Zaldy, ilang bahay ba ang gusto n’yo sa Forbes Park? Gaano karaming eroplano, helicopter?… Gaano karaming caviar kaya n’yo kainin? Ilang Ferrari gusto n’yo?’” Tiangco said.
He stressed that the remarks came directly from the President, who also made clear he did not benefit from the funds involved.
“‘At alam mo Martin, wala akong natatanggap d’yan. Wala akong nagagawa… dalawang taon na ako dito, wala akong napapagawa. Dahil kayo ni Zaldy, kinukuha n’yo yung pera ng Congress,’” Tiangco said.
According to Tiangco, Marcos showed a list of his administration’s priority projects that were placed under unprogrammed funds but were later displaced by insertions from House leaders.
Tiangco recalled that Romualdez committed to correct the issue.
“Ang pangako ni Martin noon is, we will return it sa Bicam,” he said, adding, “Which did not happen.”
The failure to return the funds reportedly further angered the President by January.
Tiangco also rejected attempts to link Marcos to the controversy, saying it was unfair to implicate him.
“Unfair naman yun sa Presidente kasi hindi naman niya inutos yun,” he said.