Lacson to Cayetano: Flood control probe can’t be hasty

Senators Panfilo Lacson and Alan Peter Cayetano —Inquirer photo/Niño Jesus Orbeta MANILA, Philippines — The word war continues between Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson and Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, with the former saying the investigation of flood control anomalies must be thorough and “not hasty or sloppy.” This was in response to Cayetano’s earlier remark likening it to a “striptease” without evidence Lacson’s gradual release of details about allegedly anomalous infrastructure projects in Taguig City. Taguig is the political bailiwick of Cayetano. His wife, Lani, is the incumbent mayor. Article continues after this advertisement In a post on X on Saturday, Lacson said Cayetano’s comment showed his “ignorance of how an investigation of flood control anomalies and other sophisticated corruption cases works.” READ: Lacson: P3.7B ‘wasted’ in Taguig reclamation “It must be deliberate, methodical and thorough; not hasty nor sloppy,” said Lacson, a former Philippine National Police chief. In a Facebook livestream on Friday, Cayetano reacted to Lacson’s comment that his office’s investigation into reclamation projects were making the minority leader “quake while quacking.” “Every day for the last three months, it’s like a striptease, but there’s no real evidence. Just constant accusations,” Cayetano said, referring to Lacson’s revelations against him. Article continues after this advertisement READ: Lacson flags 4 ‘fraudulently’ titled parcels of reclaimed land in Taguig Cayetano maintained that there were no ghost projects in Taguig and accused his colleague of “making up a story.” Article continues after this advertisement He also dared the senator to end the “trial by publicity” by allowing the Office of the Ombudsman to do its job. According to Lacson, his office has identified 32 allegedly anomalous flood control projects in Taguig City since he started looking into the matter in July. On Aug. 30, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said that cease-and-desist orders had been issued against allegedly illegal reclamation projects in the city. According to Dizon, the orders were served on Aug. 20 based on a directive from the Office of the President through the Philippine Reclamation Authority. The word war between the two senators started in July after Cayetano claimed that Lacson’s net worth had doubled. Lacson corrected him, saying his net worth had in fact quadrupled since 2022 because of his earnings from legitimate businesses. He added that he had no budget insertions since he was elected senator and accused Cayetano of making P6.79 billion worth of insertions in the 2025 General Appropriations Act. Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful. Lacson also vowed to investigate what he said were irregularities in Taguig infrastructure projects, an allegation denied by Cayetano. /cb