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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Painful decision': Tiangco renews threat to leave PBBM's side

'Painful decision': Tiangco renews threat to leave PBBM's side

Published Jan 28, 2026 01:28 pm

At A Glance

  • Navotas City lone district Rep. Toby Tiangco has renewed his threat of a "political break-up" with President Marcos, as he grows impatient with the latter's promise of accountability on the multi-billion peso flood control projects corruption scandal.
Navotas City lone district Rep. Toby Tiangco (left), President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. (MANILA BULLETIN)
Navotas City lone district Rep. Toby Tiangco (left), President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. (MANILA BULLETIN)


Navotas City lone district Rep. Toby Tiangco has renewed his threat of a "political break-up" with President Marcos, as he grows impatient with the latter's promise of accountability on the multi-billion peso flood control projects corruption scandal.
Tiangco did so in a recent interview with ANC, where he was asked for an update on his initial threat. It was back in November 2025 when Tiangco first floated the possibility of him leaving the side of the Philippine leader.
“I think I will have to make the painful decision. And he’s been very good to us. Wala kaming pinagkadiperensyan personally eh. Di ba? So ‘yun (We don't have any differences personally, right? So there), I will have to make...," Tiangco said.
Asked by the interviewer if he would "weigh your options and leave", the majority congressman said, "Yes."
Back in November, Tiangco said that President Marcos must prove that the latter wasn't "protecting" former House Speaker Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez.
"Pag naramdaman ko na poproteksiyunan niya si Martin Romualdez, maghihiwalay na kami politically (If I feel that he is protecting Martin Romualdez, I will break up with him politically)," he said.
Since then, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) and even Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, chairman of Senate Blue Ribbon Committee have cited the dearth of evidence that would link Romualdez to the flood control projects mess.
Tiangco was then asked to clarify when he would make his final decision regarding his alliance with Marcos.
Asked if it was either by end or January or February, Tiangco said: "No, tingnan natin muna kung sino ba talaga yung mga nakakasuhan. At tignan natin yung mga sirkumstansya."
(No, let us first see the individuals who will be charged. And let's see the circumstances.)
Tiangco responds to Abante
Meanwhile, Tiangco fired back at his colleague Manila 6th district Rep. Bienvenido "Benny" Abante Jr., who on Tuesday called him out for the supposedly repeated nature of his attacks, particularly against Romualdez.
Tiangco called Abante an "attack crocodile" of Romualdez.
"Pilit nating binubuhay ang isyu dahil hanggang ngayon wala pang big fish na napapanagot pagdating sa mga bogus na flood control projects at maanomalyang insertions na nangyari sa 2025 budget," Tiangco said in a statement Tuesday night.
(We keep reviving the issue because, up to now, no ‘big fish’ has been held accountable for the bogus flood control projects and anomalous insertions that took place in the 2025 budget.)
Abante likened Tiangco to a "broken record".
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