Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday, August 7, rejected allegations made by Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson regarding alleged irregularities in Taguig City’s flood control and lakeshore development initiatives, maintaining that the projects were constructed strictly for public benefit.
During a social media livestream, Cayetano clarified that infrastructure along the Taguig side of Laguna Lake was intended to shield the lakebed from illegal land grabbers while creating accessible public spaces.
“Ang purpose po is to protect the lake. Ang purpose po ay ma-enjoy ng tao. Ang purpose po ay hindi malagyan ng informal settlers at hindi po magkaroon po ng mga, or kung hindi man informal settlers, hindi magkaroon ng mga sindikato, na kakamkamin ang mga lupa dyan at gagawin private. Ang purpose ay tulungan ng Laguna Lake Development Authority na protektahan ang lake,” Cayetano said.
Cayetano also questioned why Lacson aired his accusations publicly online instead of seeking direct clarification from him or the involved government agencies.
“Sa Taguig side po makikita niyo that is all government. It is all for government purposes. It is all for the people. Hindi po totoo na yan ay privately owned at basta’t maraming sinasabi si Sen. Lacson na simple lang kung magtatanong siya ng maayos,” he stated.
The minority leader criticized Lacson for casting aspersions on public works designed to serve local residents.
“I really can’t imagine why galit na galit siya dyan. I mean, magalit ka sa akin. Kung may problema sa akin, may illegal sa akin, pero yung titirahin mo yung 1.3 million Taguigenos na nakikinabang diyan… It’s really mind-boggling,” Cayetano added.
Cayetano’s remarks follow Lacson’s submission of evidence to the Office of the Ombudsman detailing alleged irregularities in reclamation and flood control projects in Taguig, a long-standing political stronghold of the Cayetanos.
Lacson alleged that reclamation works were falsely passed off as flood mitigation, cited suspected double funding for waterway slope protections, and claimed Cayetano exerted improper influence over the Philippine Reclamation Authority and the Laguna Lake Development Authority.
Additionally, Lacson pointed out that contractors Topnotch Catalyst Builders and Dahl Construction Corporation executed projects without proper agency coordination.
Denying any wrongdoing, Cayetano expressed willingness to cooperate with a fair and formal inquiry.
“We are public officials. All of us deserve the benefit of the doubt but all of us should be open to any investigation,” Cayetano concluded.