Navotas City Lone District Representative Toby Tiangco said inhibiting from voting on the impeachment complaint against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. would ultimately work in the President’s favor.
In a television interview, Tiangco was asked if his ties to Marcos—his wife being the President’s cousin—posed a conflict of interest.
“If they want me to inhibit, then I can inhibit. But they have to think, if they ask me to inhibit, that’s favorable for the President,” Tiangco said.
He explained, “Pag pinag-inhibit nila ako ibig sabihin paborable yun sa presidente kasi pag nag-inhibit ako hindi ako pwedeng masama doon sa hinahabol nilang 106 (one-third).”
Tiangco was referring to the 106 votes, or one-third of the House’s 317 members, required to transmit the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate.
When asked if he believes he should inhibit, Tiangco replied, “I don’t think so. I don’t think so kasi nga if I inhibit the more I am favoring the President, di ba?… because parang sinasabi ko hindi na ako pwedeng bumoto for his impeachment, di ba? Parang mas pumabor pa ko sa kanya kung nag-inhibit ako.”
He added, “So kung gusto ko talaga ng fair kailangan pag-isipan ko kung talagang dapat i-impeach o hindi.”
Tiangco emphasized that lawmakers must examine the substance of the complaint.
“We have to. Congress has to. Kasi accountability yan eh sabi ko nga no one is exempt from accountability. So talagang dapat tignan yan at syempre pagdesisyunan ng tama,” he said.
The lawmaker said he will carefully read and listen to the arguments presented during the deliberations before making his decision.