MANILA — Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said his team has identified at least two suspected ghost infrastructure projects in Taguig City as part of its ongoing review of alleged budget insertions under the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA).

In a post on X, Lacson said preliminary findings also pointed to numerous slope protection and drainage projects, most costing around P100 million each, with a combined value of about P2.085 billion.

“TAGUIG GHOST INFRA PROJECTS UPDATE: We have documented at least 2 case studies so far. Too many P100M slope protection and drainage projects totaling P2.085B out of the P6.79B insertions under the 2025 GAA,” he said.

“There is no turning back!” he added.

Lacson said earlier findings by his team included projects involving firms owned by the Discayas but allegedly implemented by another contractor under a 5% royalty arrangement. He also cited similar projects awarded to Topnotch Catalyst Builders, which he noted was among the top 15 flood control project contractors announced by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. last year.

According to Lacson, the projects involving Discaya-owned firms dated back to 2019 and 2020, when Alan Peter Cayetano was serving as Speaker of the House.

He also claimed that some of the allegedly defective projects had overlapping spans that appeared to create opportunities for kickbacks, while others were later subjected to attempts at repairs despite being identified as ghost projects.

Lacson said he continues to gather documentary and testimonial evidence related to the alleged P6.79 billion in budget insertions attributed to Cayetano, as well as claims of 25% kickbacks in slope protection and other infrastructure projects, with the assistance of informants and witnesses.

He added that 68 of the 70 projects funded under the alleged P6.79 billion in budget insertions in the 2025 GAA had already been implemented, while two projects worth P75 million remained unreleased or unobligated.

“(Cayetano) asked for it, I’ll give it to him. I will pursue this to its logical conclusion. I will not ‘invent’ or ‘fabricate’ evidence but because of his attack on my integrity, I will exert extra effort to find those pieces of evidence, documentary or testimonial,” Lacson stressed.

Sen. Cayetano has yet to release a statement as of posting time.

Cayetano questions focus on Taguig in flood control project probe

Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano questioned why Taguig City has become the primary focus of allegations involving supposed ghost flood control projects after Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is looking into claims raised by Sen. Panfilo Lacson.

In a Facebook Live broadcast on July 19, Cayetano said authorities should investigate all alleged ghost projects across the country instead of concentrating only on Taguig.

“Sabi nga ni Manong Chavit Singson, sa Ilocos daw meron. Ewan ko kung totoo o hindi. Pero ang tinitingnan lang ni Senator Lacson ay Taguig,” he said.

“Ba’t hindi mo ipatawag isa-isa ‘yan? Bakit sa Taguig ka lang nakatingin?” he added.

Cayetano said that in April, Dizon, Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano, and DPWH officials personally inspected several infrastructure projects in the city as part of the department’s monitoring activities.

He said he is willing to be held accountable if irregularities are proven in Taguig’s flood control projects.

At the same time, Cayetano maintained that all infrastructure projects should be investigated fairly and that authorities should not single out one locality.

“Integrity is very important. So, why not give integrity sa investigation natin sa flood control at sa lahat ng malalaking corruption issues? Ngayon kasi, bad governance at ‘bend the law.’ Tapos tatakpan na lang sa maraming ayuda para wala na lang magtanong. Tapos kapag may nagtanong, ikulong na lang ‘yan,” Cayetano said.