The House of Representatives has stricken from the record House Deputy Speaker Janette Garin’s “out of order” ruling on Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco’s motion to reopen plenary deliberations on Congress’ proposed ₱27.89-billion budget.
Garin earlier said House rules allow only a member who voted with the majority to seek reconsideration, but the House has now reversed that position. Striking Tiangco’s motion from the record, however, did not automatically reopen the budget deliberations or alter the approved schedule.
Tiangco welcomed the move, saying the House had acknowledged the problem with the earlier ruling.
“I’m glad that the majority realized na mali yun, so they moved that it be stricken off the record,” Tiangco said.
The Navotas lawmaker had filed the motion after questioning the House’s decision to move the budget deliberation from Sept. 24 to Sept. 17 while he was out of the country. He also questioned why Congress’ budget was moved ahead of other government offices scheduled later in the calendar.
The rescheduled deliberation proceeded Sept. 17 and ended without any lawmaker raising questions or objections to the proposed Congress budget. The session lasted about six minutes, from 10:30 a.m. to 10:36 a.m.
House Committee on Accounts Chair Maria Carmen Zamora sponsored the proposal, while Pangasinan Rep. Marlyn Primicias-Agabas said no minority member would raise questions. Philreca Party-list Rep. Presley de Jesus later moved to end the sponsorship and debate period.
Tiangco also questioned how House rules were applied to his motion, arguing that procedural rules should not prevent scrutiny of public funds.
“May rules kami, huwag naman baluktutin yung rules dahil marami sila at isa lang akong independent,” Tiangco said.
“Siyempre, pag binaluktot nila yung rules at isa lang akong independent, kahit anong botohan ’yan, kahit baluktot, hindi puwedeng manaig yung tama eh.”
Documents reviewed by PGMN show that Congress’ budget was originally scheduled for Sept. 24. The House later amended its calendar, moving the deliberation to Sept. 17 at 10 a.m., with the official update posted at 11:50 p.m. on Sept. 16.
A notice reviewed by PGMN shows lawmakers were informed of the change by email at 2:05 a.m. on Sept. 17, just hours before the rescheduled session.
In August, Tiangco had asked the House why Congress’ budget did not undergo the same pre-plenary review required of other agencies. He also sought details on how its 2025 and 2026 allocations were spent and how its 2027 proposal was determined.
The proposed Congress budget covers the operations of the Senate, House of Representatives, Commission on Appointments, and the Senate and House electoral tribunals.
Before the plenary deliberation, Tiangco had also raised concerns about the review process for Congress’ own budget and sought details on previous allocations and the basis for the 2027 proposal.
