‘No House shakeup until after recess’

MANILA, Philippines —  Leadership changes in the House of Representatives are unlikely before Congress goes on recess next month, Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco said yesterday.

Speaking with The STAR’s “Truth on the Line,” Tiangco said new Speaker Bojie Dy should be given a free hand to choose his team, but acknowledged that the majority bloc would only move after passing the 2026 national budget.

“It’s difficult for Speaker Bojie if we make him Speaker and then leave him alone with no chance to replace anyone in the leadership. That puts him in a tough spot,” Tiangco said in Filipino. “I hope there is a voluntary initiative from the majority to give him some freedom to appoint leaders.”

Tiangco cited House majority leader Rep. Sandro Marcos, who earlier said there would be no leadership movements until the budget is approved on Oct. 8. “I respect his wisdom and support it because he knows the importance of the legislative agenda and our schedule,” Tiangco added.

The lawmaker stressed, however, that Dy should be allowed to make changes after the break.

“When we return, there must be some adjustments in leadership. Otherwise, it will be very hard for Speaker Bojie to lead,” he said.

Asked about speculation that he might chair the powerful appropriations committee, Tiangco denied any interest. “I will not accept. I don’t want any reward for what I’ve done. For me, what matters is knowing the whole truth, making sure it doesn’t happen again, and holding those accountable,” he said.

Initiate ‘overhaul’

Tiangco also urged the House of Representatives under the new leadership of Speaker Dy to undertake a sweeping overhaul to remove the allies of his predecessor, Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez.

“It should not only be the Speaker that should be replaced. I hope my colleagues in the House will not be offended,” Tiangco – a vocal critic of the former House leader – said over dzBB yesterday.

“The changing of the Speaker is not like a magic, we know that. But it cannot be that the Speaker will be the only one – and everybody else who will remain are all allies of the former Speaker,” Tiangco insisted, pointing out that there are also other House members who are equally, or more than qualified.

Tiangco refuted speculations, however, that he will be taking over the chairmanship of the House appropriations committee – now headed by Nueva Ecija Rep. Mikaela Suansing and vice chaired by Bataan Rep. Albert Garcia – which is now nearly halfway through budget deliberations.

“No, there’s no offer. We cannot replace them. The budget hearings today are more transparent,” he observed, vowing not to accept any position in the Dy leadership. “Even after the budget hearings (in October), I will not accept it. Because I was the most vocal.”

Abstention explained

Akbayan party-list Rep. Chel Diokno said on Wednesday that the Speakership is an exclusive matter for the majority bloc in the House of Representatives.

In a video post on X, Diokno said that this is the reason why he “abstained” from voting for the speakership post following the resignation of Leyte Rep. Romualdez as House speaker.

“There are many happenings earlier today (Wednesday) at the plenary. First, Speaker Martin Romualdez has resigned as Speaker of the House of Representatives. Voting has been done who will replace him and the majority chose Congressman Faustino Dy III,” Diokno said.

“My reaction to that? Well, it is an issue of the majority. I am member of the minority and we have nothing to do in the choosing the Speaker of the House,” he added. “I’m a member of the minority, I abstain.”

Diokno explained that the rules of the House are that once you vote for the nominated speaker, it means that you are part of the majority.

Congressmen in flood control deals

A party-list legislator reportedly bagged around P453 million of the P9.5 billion contracts that have been allotted to the first district of Bulacan, a lawmaker-source revealed yesterday amid the recent scrutiny over anomalous flood control projects.

The lawmaker, who begged anonymity, claimed that Rep. Ferdinand Beltran of Magbubukid party-list – a big-time contractor who owns Ferdstar Builders – benefitted from the P355 million that was earmarked for the entire province, as stated in the 2025 national budget.

It has been reported that flood control projects in the first district are almost all “ghost projects.” Previous news reports also indicated that Rep. Danilo Domingo received P9.5 billion out of Bulacan’s P70.3 billion budget for flood control projects from 2022 to 2025, or during the 19th Congress.

Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, former chairman of the Blue Ribbon committee, has confirmed reports of “ghost” flood projects in the towns of Calumpit, Hagonoy and Malolos –all within Domingo’s district.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has adopted a resolution commending former speaker Romualdez. – Delon Porcalla, Jose Rodel Clapano

Related video: