PEOPLE hailed the move of veteran Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco when he decided to part ways with the majority bloc at the House of Representatives, citing among others the apparent arbitrary or improper deliberations and eventual enactment of the 2025 national budget.
“Dahil sa nangyari sa 2025 national budget, hindi ko na kayang suportahan ang liderato sa House of Representatives. Hindi na ito dapat mangyari ulit,” said Tiangco who now calls him an independent member.
Tiangco revealed unlawful budget insertions in the 2025 national budget which he said must not be repeated as the lower chamber is set to deliberate for the 2026 general appropriations.
Committee of 4
The veteran Navotas lawmaker also revealed the small committee which was composed of only four members who were behind the budget insertions masqueraded as amendments.
“Kaya kung walang tinatago, anong ikinatatakot nilang pag-usapan ito nang hayagan sa open session? Ang matatakot lang sa public discussion ng individual amendments ay yung may itinatago.”
“Kung maganda ang intensyon, bakit ayaw nilang gawin din ito sa harap ng taumbayan sa plenary session?” he asked.
He adds: “Bakit dedesisyonan ng apat na tao sa tagong paraan ang amendments dito kung puwedeng lantaran itong pag-usapan? Apat na tao lang ang bumubuo ng Small Committee, sila na lang ba ang Kongreso?”
Reforming appropriations procedures
The approval of the General Appropriations Bill must follow the procedure of all other House Bills. This means that before approval on second reading, and after committee amendments are considered, every single individual amendment must be debated in open session.
“We must heed the President’s call. Itigil ang baluktot at dating gawi ng pagbuo ng small committee para pag-usapan ang individual amendments. Sundin ang proseso na ginagawa sa lahat ng House Bills, hindi ‘yung sekretong meeting ng apat na tao lang.”
“Pag pinagpatuloy ang ganitong kalakaran, para na rin nating hinayaan na patuloy na abusuhin ang kapangyarihan para sa pansariling interes, sa halip na para sa kapakanan ng taumbayan,” Tiangco said.
Time to go after corrupt gov’t people
The Navotas legislator threw his full support on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to investigate flood control projects.
“Panahon na para panagutin ang mga tiwaling nakinabang at pinagkakitaan ang mga proyektong dapat sana ay para sa ating mga kababayan.”
The message of the President was clear.
“Kailangang bantayan ang budget ng bayan para masigurong walang sikretong sinisingit na mga items na hindi naman kabilang sa plano at programa ng pamahalaan,” he vowed.
