Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson revealed Monday that at least ₱3.713 billion in public funds may have been squandered on government projects built along alleged unauthorized reclamation sites in Laguna Lake, Taguig City.
Lacson confirmed that his team will turn over their investigative records to the Office of the Ombudsman’s fact-finding unit for appropriate action, amid an escalating feud with Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano.
“WASTED PUBLIC FUNDS DUE TO MISUSE: 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.
According to Lacson, five main contractors received the lion’s share of the contracts, totaling ₱2.372 billion:
- Dahl Construction: ₱858.22 million (five standalone contracts worth ₱571.5 million; four joint ventures worth ₱286.7 million)
- J.C. Uyecio: ₱483.1 million (four joint ventures)
- Toughbuilt: ₱434.2 million (three individual projects)
- Topnotch: ₱329.9 million (two joint ventures with Core Check; one with Beam Team)
- GR Fervidal: ₱266.6 million (five multi-purpose building projects)
Lacson pointed out that all multi-purpose building ventures awarded to GR Fervidal were suspended due to required soil reinvestigations and plan revisions.
The revelations follow Lacson’s disclosures over the weekend that four parcels of reclaimed Taguig land were tied to fraudulently issued titles, while another four lacked plotted lots in Land Registration Authority digital records.
Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon issued cease-and-desist orders against DPWH projects linked to the disputed land following directives from the Office of the President via the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA).
Addressing Cayetano’s earlier dismissal of the allegations as “fake news,” Lacson pushed back, prompting a response from the Taguig-based lawmaker on Sunday during an address at the Mandaport Apostolic Pentecostals Church.
“May isang nasa dyaryo kahapon na (nagsabi na may) 181,000 square meters o 18 hectares daw na ‘illegally titled.’ Sa isang banda po, nagho-hope din kami na totoo iyon. Bakit? Kasi kung totoong illegal iyon, sa gobyerno iyon (mapupunta), eh di may 18 hectares tayo ngayon para sa gobyerno,” Cayetano remarked.
“Katulad ngayon na gusto nilang tingnan lahat ng titulo, matagal na pong gusto ni Lani iyon,” Cayetano added, noting that his wife, Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano, welcomes a full audit of local land titles.