Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson has uncovered a “cauldron of worms” involving fake slope protection projects and illegal reclamation along Laguna Lake in Taguig City—the political stronghold of Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano.
Lacson stated that his team’s findings were validated on Monday night during a meeting with officials from the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA), an agency under the Office of the President.
”‘MALULUNOD SA KATOTOHAHAN’ … Our Taguig City case study has opened a ‘cauldron of worms’ after my meeting with Philippine Reclamation Authority officials last night – from ghost slope protection projects to illegally reclaimed tracts of land covering Laguna Lake,” Lacson stated on social media.
”Aside from the PRA and the Ombudsman, we will closely coordinate with the DPWH central office, LLDA and other concerned agencies not only to jail the crooks behind these grossly anomalous and patently illegal activities but also forfeit the already reclaimed Lakeshore areas in favor of the national government. There is no turning back!” he added.
According to the former national police chief, PRA officials confirmed facing physical intimidation during an on-site inspection along the C6 Lakeshore area. They also cited harassment tactics by Cayetano during the November 2025 budget deliberations for the Office of the President.
The investigation reveals that unpermitted reclamation projects along Taguig’s lakeshore were funded using national budget allocations intended for slope protection. Resource persons with knowledge of the irregularities were reportedly intimidated during committee hearings.
Lacson and his team have submitted evidence from five case studies to the Office of the Ombudsman.
The documents suggest Cayetano exercised virtual control over Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) operations in Taguig, allegedly replacing district engineers who acted without his consent and maintaining a 33% kickback scheme on local infrastructure projects.