House majority leader denies threatening lawmaker

MANILA, Philippines— House Majority Floor Leader Neptali Gonzales on Monday said that he was not threatening Navotas Representative Tobias Tiangco in order to prevent him from testifying for the defense panel once the impeachment trial resumes.

“It’s not a threat, it’s just a matter of stating what is provided for by the rules and by the constitution,” Gonzales said.

“If he feels threatened, then it’s his problem not mine,” he added.

Tiangco previously claimed that he was being threatened with expulsion if he will testify against the impeachment complaint.

He reiterated that he was just doing his job as Majoity Floor Leader of defending the “House [of Representatives’] integrity and honor, including the honor and integrity of the members thereof, individual or collectively.”

Gonzales said that Tiangco should be careful in what he says. Tiangco should not speak of things that “will put into shame and affect the honor and integrity of the House as an institution,” he said.

Tiangco could face disciplinary action that “can include censure, can include suspension, can include expulsion,” Gonzales said.

“He is not a saint to claim that he is the only one telling the truth. If he says that then does it mean that the 188 congressmen who signed the impeachment complaint are all liars?”

Tiangco was not included in the request for subpoena filed by the defense panel to the impeachment court, “presumably he will appear voluntarily,” Gonzales said.