Navotas Representative Toby Tiangco on Sunday defended President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. amid questions about the poor performance of the Alyansa political slate in the recent mid-term elections, attributing the electoral setbacks to certain members of the House leadership.

In an online interview, Tiangco clarified that the president should not be held responsible for the electoral losses.

"The President is on top of things," Tiangco said, countering public perception linking Marcos directly to the losses of key House-backed candidates.

"But there is a negative sentiment. If you're a candidate, will you take the risk? No candidate will take the risk. He will think first of his own survival, especially when emotions are running high," he added.

Tiangco cited  that voter sentiment, particularly in Mindanao, shifted after Vice President Sarah Duterte faced impeachment proceedings in the House of Representatives.

While Tiangco did not name specific individuals, he alluded to internal tensions within the ruling coalition, with some allegedly pursuing personal agendas under the guise of supporting the administration.

He expressed frustration over the use of the President's name to justify unilateral decisions that undermined the party’s credibility.

"I have to do this because I have to protect the President. He’s paying for things he didn’t do. They sold the President's political capital," Tiangco said.