Tiangco: Congress must be careful on impeachment cases amid flood control issue

Navotas Representative Tobias “Toby” Tiangco on Thursday said Congress must be careful in handling impeachment cases, questioning whether lawmakers have the moral authority to hold officials accountable amid the flood control issue.

“Let’s be very honest no — part ako ng Congress — hindi pa naman siguro natatanggal ‘yung impression na house of crocodiles kami 'di ba? Hindi pa naman nalilinis ‘yun. Tapos maghuhusga kami sa ibang tao,” Tiangco said on the Pandesal Forum.

(Let’s be very honest — I’m part of Congress — the impression that we’re a house of crocodiles probably hasn’t been removed yet, right? That hasn’t been cleaned yet. And then we will judge other people.)

“So ‘yun lang. That’s why we have to be very careful at pag-isipan namin nang mabuti ‘yun,” he added.

(So that’s it. That’s why we have to be very careful and think about it carefully.)

He issued the remark when asked about the recent impeachment complaint filed against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Tiangco said he has been consistent in his opinion that everyone must be held accountable, whether in the impeachment complaint filed against Marcos or the previous complaint filed against Vice President Sara Duterte.

However, he asked if Congress has the moral authority to hold them accountable.

“Of course, it’s a constitutional duty. Walang question diyan. But in exercising your constitutional duty, ang dapat mo isipin, do you have the moral authority to exercise it? Kasi 'di ba ang sabi nga, bago ka tumingin sa mukha ng iba, tignan mo muna ‘yung sarili mo,” he said.

(Of course, it’s a constitutional duty. There’s no question about that. But in exercising your constitutional duty, what you should think about is, do you have the moral authority to exercise it? Because as they say, before you look at others, look at yourself first.)

“Ang daming involved sa — tama si Ben — ang daming involved doon [sa flood control mess] tapos sila din 'yung pipirma sa impeachment ng kahit sino sa dalawang ito. Tama ba ‘yun? Meron ba kaming moral authority to do this? So I think that is a question that we have to reflect on as Congress,” he added.

(So many are involved in — Ben is right — so many are involved there [in flood control mess], and then they are also the ones who will sign the impeachment of either of these two. Is that right? Do we have the moral authority to do this? So I think that is a question that we have to reflect on as Congress.)

In September 2025, contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya disclosed the names of several congressmen, their staff, and officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways who are allegedly involved in the corruption scheme.

At present, former Ako Bicol Party-List Representative Zaldy Co is the only lawmaker who has been charged before the Sandiganbayan over an alleged anomalous P289 million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro. He resigned as member of the House in September.

An arrest warrant has been issued against Co. Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Co is believed to be staying inside a gated community in Lisbon, Portugal.

Co has denied the allegations against him.—AOL, GMA Integrated News