Nelson Morales

Lacson claims P3.7-B public funds wasted on Laguna Lake 'illegal' reclamation; Cayetano fires back

Article (news)

RG Cruz

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Sen. Panfilo Lacson claimed that at least P3.713 billion in public funds may have been wasted on projects along areas of Laguna Lake in Taguig City that are subject to government action over &quot;illegal&quot; reclamation.</p><p>Taguig City is the home turf of Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano.</p><p>&quot;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,&quot; Lacson said in a <a href="https://x.com/iampinglacson/status/2094230183834484841">post </a>on X. </p><p>&quot;These do not include other anomalous Slope Protection and Flood Mitigation projects along Taguig River involving double appropriations and &#x27;ghost&#x27; projects using recycled photographs in different &#x27;completed&#x27; projects, for billing purposes,&quot; he added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/27/cayetano-scoffs-at-corruption-allegations-in-laguna-lake-infra-projects-2253">Cayetano scoffs at corruption allegations in Laguna Lake infra projects</a></div><p>Cayetano on Sunday , meanwhile, claimed that the government stands to gain if allegations of illegally titled properties along Laguna Lake in Taguig are proven true.</p><p>Cayetano also welcomed the scrutiny of land titles in the area, noting that Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano had long wanted the properties examined.</p><p>“Katulad ngayon na gusto nilang tingnan lahat ng titulo, matagal na pong gusto ni Lani iyon,” he said.</p><p>Cayetano later fired back at Lacson in a social media post. </p><p>&quot;Let’s not let politics rob this generation and future generations of the opportunity to reap its benefits.  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. GOD bless us all! PS - ANG GANDA TALAGA KAPAG ANG GOVERNMENT PROJECT AY NAPAPAKINABANGAN NG MGA PILIPINO. SENATOR PING, ITO BA ANG TINATAWAG MO NA WASTED?&quot;</p><p>&quot;Sa kamay ng Taguig bilang tagapamahala, hindi po sinayang at hindi sinasayang ang Lakeshore. 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,&quot; Cayetano claimed.</p><p>Lacson&#x27;s office issued a press release afterwards, based on a social media post where he appeared to rebut Cayetano.</p><p>&quot;WHAT IF IT WASN’T EXPOSED?&quot; Lacson <a href="https://x.com/iampinglacson/status/2094295560056406460">said </a>on X. </p><p>Lacson&#x27;s officer&#x27;s press release wondered if Cayetano would still be &quot;hoping&quot; that the allegations of illegally titled properties in the area are true so the government could stand to gain from the land if the alleged illegal reclamation activities on the Taguig City side of Laguna Lake had not been exposed.</p><p>Lacson also claimed that the government may not simply stand to gain from the questioned areas, since at least 38.83 hectares are covered by land titles registered to private individuals.</p><p>&quot;Maybe so, except that those titles (38.83 hectares total, so far) are registered to private individuals. We have their names as well as the OCT (Original Certificates of Title) and TCT (Transfer Certificate of Title) numbers. We are digging further deep into it,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;Pag ganito ka-detalyado at may pinaghugutan pang official records, mahirap sigurong paniwalaan na ‘fake news’. At kung hahaluan pa ng kulay pulitika, i.e. may plano daw akong tumakbong presidente sa 2028, watch me - my public service career ends when I finish my term as senator in 2031. I might even retire earlier. Fighting corruption in this country is exhausting and frustrating,&quot; he <a href="https://x.com/iampinglacson/status/2094272909137297418">said</a>. </p><p>Cayetano afterwards made another social media post, where he said that &quot;investigation and process must be a search for TRUTH, not a vehicle for political vendetta.&quot;</p><p>&quot;This is where Senator Ping Lacson and the majority of Filipinos fundamentally differ,&quot; Cayetano said. &quot;When accusations are made, what is asked for is clarity: What exactly is the allegation? What is the evidence? Who did what? Where are the documents, where is your evidence? Are these mere accusations, or is evidence presented?&quot;</p><p>&quot;But instead of allowing each specific allegation to be tested and answered, Senator Lacson responds with more unsubstantiated or misleading accusations, mostly,  insinuations, and then confuse the issue with more issues.&quot;</p><p>&quot;One allegation becomes another. One question produces three more accusations. Until the truth is obscured and all that is left is anger, fear, confusion, and paranoia.&quot;</p><p>&quot;To be fair - if there is evidence against DPWH, Taguig, or against me, then present it. Allow the investigative offices (like The Office of the Ombudsman) to do their job. Stop the theatrics and let the evidence do the talking set In The proper judicial Venue where fairness is assured.&quot;</p><p>Lacson previously said the latest findings will be among the pieces of evidence that will be submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman&#x27;s fact-finding team &quot;for proper disposition.&quot;</p><p>Lacson named the five top contractors involved in projects covering P2.372 billion, citing official records and his and his team&#x27;s investigation.</p><p>Earlier, Lacson said Department of Public Works and Highways Sec. Vince Dizon &quot;guaranteed&quot; him that the DPWH would immediately issue cease-and-desist orders on projects linked to the illegal reclamation once he receives the appropriate requests from the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA), to prevent further waste of government funds on contractors carrying out unauthorized or illegal activities.</p><p>Lacson also said PRA officials had told him and his staff that all unpermitted reclaimed areas in Taguig City, whether belonging to the local government or to private individuals, are subject to forfeiture in favor of the national government.</p><p>On Saturday, Lacson disclosed that at least four parcels of illegally reclaimed land in Taguig City had been initially identified as covered by &quot;fraudulently&quot; issued land titles while at least four other parcels have no plotted title lots in the Land Registration Authority (LRA)&#x27;s digital file.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/13/lacson-says-he-has-started-vetting-titles-of-reclaimed-land-in-taguig-1432">Lacson says he has started vetting titles of reclaimed land in Taguig</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vlTSDQJUoGI?si=WS7Ud3AviFVFNHgx" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Sen. Panfilo Lacson has claimed that at least P3.713 billion in public funds may have been wasted on projects along areas of Laguna Lake in Taguig City that are subject to government action over "illegal" reclamation.</p>

Sen. Panfilo Lacson has claimed that at least P3.713 billion in public funds may have been wasted on projects along areas of Laguna Lake in Taguig City that are subject to government action over "illegal" reclamation.