Navotas Representative Tobias “Toby” Tiangco on Thursday said impeachment cases must be handled with caution, as he weighed in on the recent impeachment complaint filed against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Tiangco said the House of Representatives continues to struggle with public perception, noting that questions about lawmakers’ moral authority persist amid the ongoing flood control controversy.

“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.

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

On Monday, 19 January, Pusong Pinoy Representative Jett Nisay filed an impeachment complaint against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., citing alleged betrayal of public trust, including the failure to veto unprogrammed appropriations in the national budget, claims related to the alleged “kidnapping” of former President Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court, and accusations that Marcos is unfit to serve due to alleged drug addiction.

The complaint drew criticism from Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, who described it as “weak, unsupported by credible evidence, and unlikely to move forward in the House of Representatives.”

“This particular complaint appears crafted more for media consumption than for serious constitutional scrutiny. The House will not treat impeachment as a mere press statement or partisan maneuver. We will demand substance, and in this instance, substance is conspicuously absent,” Adiong said.

Meanwhile, members of the minority bloc on Thursday attempted to submit a second impeachment complaint accusing Marcos of betrayal of public trust. The filing was delayed after House Secretary General Cheloy Garafil, who was supposed to receive it, was out of the country.

Petitioners argued that House rules only require filing with the Office of the Secretary General, not the personal presence of the secretary general, and said they left a copy of the complaint at the office.

Tiangco said he has been consistent in his view that accountability applies to everyone, whether in the case of Marcos or the earlier impeachment complaint filed against Vice President Sara Duterte.

“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,” Tiangco said.

“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.

At present, former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co is the first lawmaker from the House of Representatives alleged to be involved in the flood control controversy to face a case before the Sandiganbayan over an alleged P289-million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.