Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco Speaks on Alleged “Break Allowance” for Congressmen
TOBY TIANGCO
– Amid the “P2-million Christmas bonus for congressman” issue, the Navotas Representative spoke his side of the story.
According to Cong.
Leandro Leviste, 318 congressmen allegedly received P2-million each as Christmas bonus
from the House of Representatives. The supposed bonus allegedly came from the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses or MOOE fund. The claim of the young Congressman earned different reactions from his fellow lawmakers in the lower chamber.
Several congressmen denied the claim of Leviste. As for Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon, the P2-million was allegedly not a Christmas bonus. Ridon’s remarks is an admission of his claim as for the son of Sen. Loren Legarda.
“Today, the first thing that I want to say is my thanks to Congressman Ridon and House deputy speaker Ronnie Puno for admitting that there was P2 million released to congressmen last week. Some have denied it. Some said they are not sure how much,”
Leviste said.
According to Cong. Leandro Leviste, he will remain quiet until the session in the House of Representatives resumes on January 26. He claimed that he was allegedly told by his mother that the MOOE fund is allegedly a sensitive topic in the Congress.
Photo lifted from Rappler
“I just want to say this, because my mother told me ‘Son, of all that you say, don’t discuss the MOOE because that is the most sensitive issue in the entire Congress,’”
Leviste said.
Amid the differing opinions and claims over the accusation of Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste against his fellow lawmakers, Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco claimed that the congressmen allegedly receive a “break allowance” or “break bonus” every time the Congress takes a break.
“Ever since I became a congressman, there is already this break bonus. The explanation for that is because you will spend most of your time in your district, you will have funds for expenses,”
Tiangco said.
Based on a report on PhilStar, Cong. Toby Tiangco claimed that he received “break allowance” from the House since 2010 for
Undas,
Christmas, and Holy Week. According to him, the congressmen would allegedly have to sign a voucher to receive the said “break bonus”.
“When did it start? I don’t know… There is the monthly MOOE, there is the break allowance… ever since I started in 2010,”
the Navotas Congressman said.
However, Cong. Toby Tiangco claimed that there are allegedly no requirements for the liquidation of the supposed “break allowance” given to congressmen. Based on the
report
, he allegedly received P1.5 million as allowance for
Undas
but he has not received an allowance this Christmas.
Previously, amid the flood control mess in the Philippines wherein several members of the House were tagged, Vice Pres.
Sara Duterte claimed that Pres. Bongbong Marcos should not just allow the congressmen to go abroad and evade accountability