Tiangco bares PBBM–Romualdez clash over ‘pocketed’ funds

 

A confrontation allegedly occurred between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his cousin, Leyte Rep. and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, over accusations of pocketing public funds and diverting them to pet projects, according to Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco.

In a television interview, Tiangco said Marcos confronted Romualdez over the alleged diversion of unprogrammed funds to projects favored by Romualdez and then Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co.

“Ilang bahay ba ang... Martin, kayo ni Zaldy, ilang bahay ba ang gusto n'yo sa Forbes Park? Gaano karaming eroplano, helicopter?” Tiangco said, quoting Marcos telling Romualdez.

“Gaano karaming caviar kaya n'yo kainin? Ilang Ferrari gusto n'yo?” he added.

According to Tiangco, Marcos then ordered Romualdez to return the money to the unprogrammed funds, an order that was never carried out.

“Ang problema kasi ang impression kay Presidente masyadong mabait e,” Tiangco said when asked why Romualdez defied Marcos’ order.

“Mabait siya even…tingnan mo lang ha, in one interview, he said he was so mad pero iba iyong pag tayo iyong nagsabi I’m so mad. Pero iyong sa kanya, I’m so mad pero para sa kanya iba e, mabait e,” he added.

The Navotas lawmaker also said that from 2022 to 2025, real power within the House of Representatives was heavily centralized under Romualdez because he was the President’s relative.

Because of this, Tiangco said many lawmakers felt they could not question decisions or seek clarification without risking political consequences.

“Ito ang first time na nagkaroon ng Speaker na pinsang buo. So kung may sinabi ang Speaker sa isang congressman na ganito, pwede mo ba tanungin yung Presidente na—Sir, na-clear ba to sa inyo? Sino ang maglalakas ng loob 'di ba?” he said.

“Kung hindi sya kamag anak ng Presidente, they will have the courage to clear it with the President,” he added.

Tiangco revealed that based on surveys conducted before the 2025 senatorial elections, Romualdez was a major reason for the decline in Marcos’ approval ratings.

“Pero doon pa lang, nakikita na ang nagpapababa sa ratings niya, si Martin,” he said, adding that the President was aware of it.