Senator Alan Peter Cayetano has denied allegations of “ghost” flood control projects in Taguig City, challenging Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson to expand his scrutiny to other highly urbanized cities. The dispute, which centers on corruption allegations and budget practices, is expected to reach the Senate blue ribbon committee once it convenes.
Cayetano’s Defense Against Ghost Project Allegations
In a recent Facebook live broadcast, Senator Cayetano rejected claims that his family’s bailiwick of Taguig City hosted non-existent flood control projects. Cayetano asserted that the Office of the Ombudsman had already cleared the city of such claims during a 2025 interview. Additionally, he stated that an internal review conducted by his own office confirmed that all government funds directed toward Taguig projects were accounted for. “There are no ghost projects in Taguig,” Cayetano said. “But when we followed the government funds, the projects were there.”
Escalation of Senate Feud
The tension between the two senators has intensified following a series of public accusations. Cayetano alleged that both Senator Lacson and Senator Erwin Tulfo saw their net worth double. In response, Lacson accused Cayetano of securing P6.79 billion in budget insertions within the 2025 national budget, a practice Lacson claimed he has never engaged in since he became a senator.
Lacson previously stated that he is gathering evidence from informants and witnesses with the intent to see Cayetano jailed in the Payatas, Quezon City facility. Cayetano questioned the motivation behind these allegations, suggesting that Lacson is targeting him due to personal animosity rather than legitimate evidence. He challenged Lacson to look into other highly urbanized areas, including Quezon City, Mandaluyong, Makati, and Parañaque, to demonstrate that the probe is not merely a targeted attack.
Potential Next Steps in the Senate Investigation
The conflict is likely to move into a formal legislative setting, as the allegations regarding the flood control projects are slated for review by the Senate blue ribbon committee. The committee’s eventual inquiry could serve as the venue where the competing claims regarding the P6.79 billion in budget insertions and the existence of the projects are formally addressed. Until the committee convenes, the public exchange remains a point of contention between the two lawmakers, with both sides maintaining their respective positions on the city’s financial records and personal conduct.
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