Does Navotas City lone district Rep. Toby Tiangco want to be the new "meow-meow" in the House of Representatives?

Manila 6th district Rep. Bienvenido "Benny" Abante Jr. posed this question on Tuesday, Jan. 27 even as he assailed his House colleagues for his alleged repeated, unsubstantiated claims about President Marcos and former Speaker Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez over a confrontation on the national budget.

Abante, overall chairman of the House quad-committee (quad-comm) in the 20th Congress, says Tiangco’s repeated insinuations are sowing division and confusion despite the absence of evidence and formal complaints.

“Gusto mo bang ikaw na ang susunod na meow-meow? (Do you want to be the next meow-meow)” Abante asked, alluding to what could be described as the playbook of the suspended Cavite 4th district Rep. Francisco "Kiko" Barzaga. "Congressmeow" Barzaga--currently suspended from the House--is known for his inflammatory comments and rage-baiting.

“Kung may ebidensiya, ilabas. Kung wala, tigilan na ang paninira at ang paghahasik ng pagkakawatak-watak. Paulit-ulit siya, parang sirang plaka (If there is evidence, bring it out. If there is none, stop the slander and the sowing of division. He keeps repeating himself, like a broken record)," Abante said, referring to his fellow veteran solon from Navotas.

On Monday, Jan. 26, President Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro virtually denied claims of an alleged private conversation wherein President Marcos supposedly castigated Romualdez over the budget. Castro stressed that the Chief Executive did not mention any such remarks to them.

Tiangco, a majority congressman, has threatened to break up politically with President Marcos if he senses any move from the latter to shield Romualdez from the flood control controversy.

Abante questioned Tiangco’s motive in keeping the issue alive despite repeated clarifications from institutions tasked to investigate the issue.

“Kung paulit-ulit na sinasabi ng mga institusyon na walang basehan, bakit pilit pa ring binubuhay ang isyu? Ano ba talaga ang motibo—paghahanap ng katotohanan o pulitikang paninira?”

(If institutions keep saying again and again that there is no basis, why insist on reviving the issue? What is really the motive—seeking the truth or political demolition?)

Meanwhile, Abante shared the sentiment of Deputy Minority Leader ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio that Tiangco sounded like a "DDS" (Duterte Diehard Supporter) when he vowed not to support a new impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte until a "big fish" is caught in the flood control projects mess.

“There are serious and still unanswered alleged issues of corruption involving the Vice President. These are entirely separate from the flood control controversy, which must be approached strictly on the basis of evidence. It is unfortunate that this discussion is being muddied by tactics reminiscent of galawang DDS (DDS tactics),” Abante said.

Earlier, Tiangco underscored that accountability must apply to everyone in public office, whether the issue involves President Marcos or Vice President Duterte.

Abante stressed that Romualdez has already been cleared by the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI), which found no adverse findings against the former Speaker in its review of flood control projects.

The Manila lawmaker also pointed out that even Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairman and Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson had publicly stated that there was no evidence linking Romualdez to any wrongdoing based on the panel's investigation.

“Malinaw ang sinabi ni Senator Lacson: walang ebidensiya. Kapag ang mismong Senate Blue Ribbon na ang nagsabi niyan, ano pa ang hinahabol? (Senator Lacson made it clear: there is no evidence. When it is the Senate Blue Ribbon itself that says so, what more is there to pursue?)” Abante asked.