Navotas City Lone District Representative Toby Tiangco testified during a Sandiganbayan hearing on November 10 regarding a 2024 meeting where President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. allegedly reprimanded former House Speaker Martin Romualdez over major government infrastructure projects.
According to Tiangco, the President accused Romualdez and former Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co of siphoning funds from large-scale projects and undermining the administration.
“During that meeting, I personally witnessed the President reprimand Romualdez saying, ‘Wala pa akong napapagawang malaking proyekto. Kasi kayo ni Zaldy kinukuha niyo ang pera sa mga malaking proyekto. Kayo ni Zaldy ang sumisira sa gobyernong ito, papabagsakin ninyo ang gobyerno ko,’” Tiangco said.
Tiangco also stated that the President questioned Romualdez regarding his lifestyle and asset accumulations.
“I remember him saying to Romualdez, ‘How many houses in Forbes Park do you want? How many airplanes do you need? How many Ferraris do you want? How much caviar can you eat?’” he added.
Investigation into Budget Insertions
Following the hearing, Tiangco detailed his review of 2025 budget insertions, noting that he cross-referenced project proponents with assigned districts and flagged unusually large allocations as potential red flags.
“Pag yung proponent at yung distrito ay hindi parehong congressman, doesn’t make sense. Kasi bakit ka magdadala sa ibang distrito? O yung ibang mga sobrang laki ang insertion, red flag,” Tiangco explained.
“Red flag, ibig sabihin mukhang may kalokohan,” he stated.
Tiangco reported receiving two Excel files from former House Deputy Speaker Jayjay Suarez totaling over ₱140 billion, alongside a ₱209 billion list from former Public Works Undersecretary Catalina Cabral.
He claimed Suarez initially withheld a “special list” containing ₱26 billion in projects attributed to Romualdez and ₱5 billion for the Tingog Party-list, whose first nominee during the 19th Congress was Yedda Marie Romualdez.
Tiangco added that Suarez consulted House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos before releasing the data because the lawmaker’s name also appeared as a proponent.
“Sa pagitan noong panahon na ‘yon, nagkausap kami ni Cong. Sandro, sinabi niya na sabi ni Jayjay sa kanya, ‘Pano ‘yan? Pag binigay ko listahan kay Toby, lalabas na proponent ka rin’,” Tiangco recalled.
“Ang sagot ni Sandro kay Jayjay is, ‘Walang problema, ibigay mo. Kasi di ko naman binenta ‘yong projects. Libre naman ‘yan, hinihingi sa akin, binigay ko walang kapalit,’” he concluded.