Navotas Lone District Rep. Tobias “Toby” Tiangco hopes his fellow congressmen would not disregard the Filipino people’s sentiments on the severity of the corruption being recently unraveled.
“Ang dapat lang siguro maintindihan ng aking mga kasamahan sa House is huwag tayo maging manhid doon sa damdamin ng mga kababayan natin, diba. Hindi ko alam kung ako lang ang nakakaramdam na galit ‘yung mga tao sa mga congressman,” Tiangco said in an interview on DZRH Balansyado on Thursday evening.
He recalled being told that he was tarnishing the image of the House of Representatives, but argued that if he were to stay silent, public sentiment would be unchanged.
“Ako, tinutulungan ko lang sila na ilabas ‘yung katotohanan para magkaroon ng tiwala ‘yung tao sa gobyerno,” Tiangco reasoned.
On whether Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co would be summoned to the House Infrastructure Committee inquiries, Tiangco expressed doubt that Co would attend, especially now that he is in the United States for medical treatment, according to reports. However, there are other ways for him to cooperate with the InfraComm’s probe.
“Yes (he will be summoned), pero hindi naman sila papayag e, ‘yun ‘yung problema e diba. Ngayon, kung nasa America si Congressman Zaldy Co, at hindi siya makaattend, sabihin nalang niya nasaan ‘yung record nung small committee hearing nung 2025 budget. ‘Yun nalang padala niya, puwede niya namang i-email diba, kahit nasa Amerika siya,” Tiangco said.
The government has no power to bring him home against his will, as he has no cases to be resolved, Tiangco stated. Moreover, despite his duty to the country as a member of the House, Co must also attend to his health.
In spite of this, Tiangco thinks it pertinent to summon members of the previous House committee on appropriations to serve as resource persons in the investigation.
“Ano bang sabi ni (Baguio City) Mayor (Benjamin) Magalong? Ang contractor ata ‘yung kita is 8-10 percent… ang sinasabi nila, DPWH, parang 5 percent… Pero sinasabi niya, committee of appropriations, 20 percent. Pinatawag na natin ‘yung DE (district engineer), DPWH, (at) contractor. Bakit natin ayaw pakinggan kung sinong sinasabi niyang kumukuha ng 20 percent?” he questioned.
However, if Co does turn up at the probe, Tiangco said he wouldn’t be attending as it would likely prove a waste of time.
“Hindi ako maga-attend, lokohan ‘yun e. Ba’t naman ako magsasayang ng oras ko doon sa lokohan … Pag pinatawag nila si Mayor Magalong, ‘yun, doon ako maga-attend,” he told the anchors.
Lastly, Tiangco backed President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s move to form an independent commission to investigate the anomalous flood control projects.
Caloocan 2nd District Rep. Edgar Erice, aside from Tiangco, has also moved to call Co to the InfraComm’s probe, as former chairperson for the committee on appropriations. Erice also requested Senator Grace Poe’s presence, as she used to head the Senate committee on finance.
