MANILA, Philippines — The political clash between Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano and Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson is intensifying as allegations surrounding infrastructure and reclamation projects in Taguig City continue to draw scrutiny from government investigators.
Cayetano has accused Lacson of engaging in what he described as a “trial by publicity,” “witch hunt,” and “demolition job,” arguing that allegations have been released piecemeal without sufficient evidence being presented in the proper forum.
In his latest remarks, Cayetano likened Lacson’s continuing disclosures to a “striptease,” saying accusations have been coming out for months without, in his view, producing concrete proof of wrongdoing.
“Every day for the last three months, it’s like a striptease, but there’s no real evidence. Just constant accusations,” Cayetano said during a Facebook livestream.
Cayetano urges Lacson to let investigators do their job
Cayetano said he has no objection to being investigated and maintained that public officials should be subjected to scrutiny when there are legitimate allegations.
His objection, he said, is to repeatedly publicizing accusations before the proper investigative bodies have completed their work.
He urged Lacson to allow the Office of the Ombudsman to examine the allegations and determine whether violations actually occurred.
Cayetano also maintained that he is cooperating with the Ombudsman and said he welcomes a fair investigation.
“No one is above the law. We welcome an honest-to-goodness, fair investigation,” Cayetano said.
The senator further argued that repeatedly mentioning possible criminal charges against contractors could create an atmosphere of fear before any case has been established.
Lacson fires back: Evidence already with Ombudsman
Lacson, however, rejected Cayetano’s characterization of the investigation.
The senator has repeatedly said that his office has already submitted documentary and testimonial evidence concerning the questioned Taguig projects to the Office of the Ombudsman.
The evidence, according to Lacson, includes records obtained from government agencies such as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA), Land Registration Authority (LRA), as well as documents connected to the General Appropriations Acts.
Lacson has also said the Ombudsman’s fact-finding investigation is continuing and that the evidence submitted by his office could assist investigators in obtaining additional documents and testimony.
P3.7 billion in projects questioned
The dispute escalated after Lacson said that at least ₱3.713 billion in public funds had been spent on completed, ongoing and suspended DPWH flood-control and multipurpose projects located along portions of the Laguna Lake shoreline in Taguig that he described as areas affected by allegedly illegal reclamation.
The figure was based, according to Lacson, on official records and his office’s investigation.
Lacson stressed that the ₱3.713-billion figure does not include other projects along the Taguig River that he has alleged involved double appropriations and supposed “ghost” projects using recycled photographs for billing purposes.
These claims have not been established as criminal wrongdoing by a final court ruling. They remain matters under investigation.
DPWH orders questioned reclamation projects halted
The controversy has also moved beyond the senators’ public exchange.
The Department of Public Works and Highways issued cease-and-desist orders involving questioned reclamation-related projects in Taguig following government action concerning the disputed sites.
Lacson previously said his investigation identified reclamation activities covering at least 85 hectares on the Taguig side of Laguna Lake.
The senator also disclosed that four parcels of allegedly illegally reclaimed land had been identified with titles he characterized as fraudulently issued. He said these findings would be submitted to the Ombudsman for investigation.
Cayetano defends Taguig Lakeshore
Cayetano has strongly rejected the narrative that Taguig’s development projects constitute wasted public funds.
He defended the Taguig Lakeshore area, saying it continues to serve public purposes involving health, education, leisure, businesses and other community activities.
Cayetano challenged Lacson to substantiate his claims about supposedly wasted funds and argued that the development of Taguig should not automatically be treated as evidence of irregularity.
The clash is now in the hands of investigators
The two senators have continued exchanging accusations in public, but Lacson says the documentary and testimonial evidence has already been placed before the Ombudsman.
Earlier, Lacson said the Ombudsman had sought records from the DPWH, PRA, LRA and the Taguig Registry of Deeds as part of its fact-finding process.
That means the next major development may not come from another Facebook livestream or political exchange—but from what investigators uncover in the documents, records and testimony now being examined.
For now, Cayetano maintains that Lacson is conducting a politically motivated “trial by publicity,” while Lacson insists that the evidence speaks for itself and that the Ombudsman should determine whether violations occurred.
The allegations remain under investigation, and any criminal or administrative liability would ultimately have to be established through the appropriate legal process.
WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.S
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