For the first time, Navotas City Representative Toby Tiangco publicly revealed what he described as alleged “anomalies” in the 2025 national budget.
In an interview on ABS-CBN News Channel’s Headstart, Tiangco questioned the suspicious increase in the budgets of two districts based on details provided by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
According to Tiangco, one district was allocated ₱20.99 billion in the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA)—an ₱18.47 billion jump from its original ₱2.53 billion budget under the 2025 National Expenditure Program (NEP).
Another district, he said, received ₱20.795 billion in the 2025 GAA—₱19.286 billion more than its original ₱1.508 billion budget under the NEP.
Tiangco added that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. did not allow the release of ₱5.272 billion and ₱4.97 billion from these allocations due to the questionable budget increases.
He declined to name the districts, saying it was possible that even the lawmakers representing them were unaware of the “miracle” that happened to their budgets.
The veteran lawmaker questioned how the “small committee” that finalized the 2025 national budget came up with such huge additional funds for the districts.
“Yung ₱13 (billion), ang tanong ko, kung ang BiCam is ₱5.2 billion ibig sabihin ba sa small committee ba, eh ayaw ilabas, paano? Kasi dun sa BiCam records, ₱5.2 billion lang, so saan nanggaling yung ₱13 (billion)?” Tiangco asked.
Tiangco also confirmed that about ₱84 billion in the national budget was withheld by President Marcos Jr. due to allegedly suspicious insertions.
He said the President himself is caught in the controversy stirred by Congress, pointing out that Marcos’ remark in his July 28 State of the Nation Address—“mahiya naman kayo” (have some shame)—was likely directed at the House of Representatives.
“’Yan ang hindi alam ng tao diba? Kasi ang nangyari nung una, galit sila sa House, tapos galit sa Kongreso dahil dun sa nangyari diba? Tapos nung pirmahan nya (Marcos Jr.), pati sya nadamay dun sa hindi naman nya kasalanan,” Tiangco said.
“Tapos sinabi bakit ito lang ang vineto? Ba’t yung hindi nya pag-release ng ₱80 billion+ up to July 29 is, parang vineto na nya eh,” he added.
Tiangco challenged Ako Bicol Partylist Representative Zaldy Co—chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations that crafted the 2025 GAA—to explain the budget “miracles.”
Co has yet to respond to the allegations.