Tiangco pushes total House overhaul

Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco has pushed for a total overhaul of the House of Representatives leadership, following the implication of several lawmakers, including Speaker Martin Romualdez, in flood control project kickbacks.

- By GILBERT BAYORAN With Jose Rodel Clapano

In an interview, Tiangco said all the leadership positions in the House were given "because they are close to the Speaker."

He admitted there are talks of House leadership change.

"If they want reforms in the House, it should be Albee (Bacolod City Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez) to be the Speaker," Tiangco said. "Because he is part of the independent bloc."

Benitez and Tiangco did not vote for Romualdez, who was unopposed, during the selection of speakership for the 20th Congress.

"If you want reforms, you must get someone who did not support the leadership. That is very clear," Tiangco said, but he admitted that it is still a numbers game for the speakership, and they are not making moves out of respect to the President.

Meanwhile, Rep. Francisco Barzaga has decided to part ways with the House supermajority coalition, as well as his membership in the National Unity Party (NUP), in the wake of the rumored leadership change.