MANILA – The Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) has begun the process that could lead to the forfeiture in favor of the national government of several hectares of allegedly illegally reclaimed land on the Taguig side of Laguna Lake, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said.

Lacson said the PRA confirmed his team’s initial finding that the Taguig City government had not secured any of the permits required to undertake the reclamation.

“They are moving toward an investigation that would lead to a PRA board resolution to start the process toward forfeiture proceedings,” Lacson said in an interview over DZBB.

“If reclamation is undertaken without a permit from the PRA, which is the agency mandated to regulate reclamation and issue the necessary permits, the logical conclusion is that the land should be forfeited in favor of the national government,” he added.

Lacson said the PRA confirmed that the city government had not secured a single reclamation permit.

He said that even if the reclaimed areas are government property, as claimed by former Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, the Taguig City government would still need permits and other documents from the PRA, Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) before undertaking reclamation work.

“The local government still cannot do reclamation work without the needed reclamation permits,” Lacson said.

He cited Sen. Francis Escudero’s account of securing permits from relevant agencies, including the DENR, when he was governor of Sorsogon before undertaking reclamation projects.

“Some portions of the lands where multipurpose buildings and parks are being built could be owned by the LGU. But even the LGU cannot reclaim land without the needed permits, or the land will be forfeited in favor of the national government,” Lacson said.

The senator earlier accused the Cayetanos of disguising what he described as “unabated and illegal” reclamation operations in the Taguig portion of Laguna Lake as flood control and mitigation projects.

Lacson also alleged that the PRA’s earlier investigation into the reclamation was stalled after Cayetano pressured agency representatives during the November 2025 deliberations on the Office of the President’s budget.

According to Lacson, PRA officials told him that Cayetano summoned them to his office and threatened to have the budget deliberations suspended, effectively pressuring the agency and causing the investigation to stall.

“The investigation was stalled but now the PRA is very enthusiastic,” Lacson said.

He said further verification was needed to determine the total area that could be subject to forfeiture. Lacson said an earlier count showed 47 hectares had been reclaimed, while another 37 hectares had reportedly been added more recently.

He said PRA personnel had encountered difficulties in determining the full extent of the reclamation after allegedly being monitored while conducting their inspection. One official, he said, used a drone during a visit to a street-food event in the area to obtain a clearer view of the reclaimed portions.

Lacson said his team had so far gathered evidence involving at least 32 allegedly anomalous flood control projects in Taguig after coordinating with the PRA and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

He added that his team had turned over to the Ombudsman evidence covering at least five case studies, along with affidavits from at least two witnesses who cooperated in the investigation.

Lacson said Cayetano should now prepare to answer the allegations before the Ombudsman.

“We are talking about how many ghost projects were funded by taxpayers’ money as shown by the evidence,” he said.

He also said at least four contractors who stopped cooperating with the investigation could potentially face plunder charges.

Blue Ribbon probe

Lacson said it would be up to Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Erwin Tulfo to decide whether the Taguig flood control projects would be included in the panel’s hearings.

“It’s his call as chairman,” Lacson said, adding that public concern over flood control spending has intensified following renewed flooding.

However, Lacson said some witnesses expressed fear that they could be harassed if summoned to public hearings.

He said the witnesses asked to be referred to the Ombudsman instead of being called to a public hearing, a request he supported to prevent their identities and testimonies from being prematurely exposed.