At the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing, Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco detailed his findings from his probe into the 2025 national budget.
According to Tiangco, the House of Representatives created a “small committee” composed of then-House Committee on Appropriations Chair Zaldy Co, then-Senior Vice Chair and former Marikina City Rep. Stella Quimbo, then-House Majority Leader and former Zamboanga City Rep. Mannix Dalipe, and Minority Floor Leader Marcelino Libanan.
“Kaya po ako rin, napakahalaga po sa akin na maimbitihan si Cong. Zaldy Co at doon naman po sa House of Representatives, mayroon pong small committee doon pagkatapos ng 2nd reading so ang pag-insert is not only dun sa BiCam (Bicameral Conference), meron pang insertion doon sa small committee,” Tiangco said.
He also observed suspicious increases in the budgets of certain provinces and party-list groups.
“Una ko pong napansin dun is lumobo yung dalawang Mindoro, isang Oriental, isang Occidental, ang NEP (National Expenditure Program) nila is sabihin natin para safe ako, hindi lalampas ng ₱2.5 (billion) yung NEP nila, nagulat ako sabi ko, infairness dun sa mga district congressmen, hindi po nila kaya gawin yun, hindi kayang gawin ng regular congressman na magdagdag, hindi naman po sila member ng Committee on Appropriations, parehong first-term congressmen po yun,” Tiangco explained.
Tiangco insisted that Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co must be held accountable and answer why questionable insertions were made in the 2025 national budget.