Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Monday pushed back against allegations by Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson that billions of pesos in public funds were squandered on flood control and infrastructure initiatives in Taguig City’s Lakeshore area.
Cayetano rejected claims that the local development had been neglected, maintaining that the site has been transformed into a functional hub for public services and community events.
“Sa kamay ng Taguig bilang tagapamahala, hindi po sinayang at hindi sinasayang ang Lakeshore… Let’s not let politics rob this generation and future generations of the opportunity to reap its benefits,” Cayetano said.
“Lakeshore is an area full of potential that we continually want to transform! We turned this into a home for events and other different functions—for health, education, leisure, businesses, and more. Many many people po rely on the Laguna Lake,” he added.
“May this be a model for other lakes and developments in different LGUs—that with proper stewardship, purpose, and vision, we can transform these blessings into opportunities that benefit our people,” he noted.
“PS – ANG GANDA TALAGA KAPAG ANG GOVERNMENT PROJECT AY NAPAPAKINABANGAN NG MGA PILIPINO. SENATOR PING, ITO BA ANG TINATAWAG MO NA WASTED?” Cayetano asked.
The rift deepened after Lacson reported that his team uncovered at least ₱3.713 billion spent on what he characterized as unauthorized reclamation and irregular Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) projects along Laguna Lake.
Lacson stated that the findings would be submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman for fact-finding inquiries.
“Based on official records and our investigation, the total cost of identified completed, ongoing (and suspended) DPWH flood control and multi-purpose projects along the ‘illegal’ Laguna Lakeshore reclamation areas in Taguig City has so far reached ₱3.713 billion,” Lacson stated.
“These do not include other anomalous slope protection and flood mitigation projects along Taguig River involving double appropriations and ‘ghost’ projects using recycled photographs in different ‘completed’ projects, for billing purposes,” he added.
In response, Cayetano challenged Lacson to substantiate his accusations in court rather than through public exchanges.
“If there is evidence against DPWH, Taguig, or against me, then present it. Stop the theatrics and let the evidence do the talking set in the proper judicial venue where fairness is assured,” Cayetano challenged.
“Every hour the government spends on political warfare instead of solving problems is wasted. Every peso spent on projects that do not serve the people is wasted. Every opportunity to reform a broken system sacrificed for personal or partisan advantage is wasted,” he said.
Lacson has not yet issued a response to Cayetano’s statements.