MANILA— Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Monday warned Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vivencio “Vince” Dizon that attempts to conceal irregularities in infrastructure projects in Taguig City could lead to criminal liability.

Lacson said he raised the matter with Dizon after the DPWH’s own inspection teams flagged 68 projects in Taguig, including a slope protection project whose billing documents contained geotagged photographs showing coordinates in Leyte instead of Taguig.

“Sinabi ko sa kanya, huwag nyo na itanggi ito kasi nai-submit ko na rin ito sa Ombudsman. Nasa Ombudsman na yan. Mapapahamak kayo pagka nagtakip pa kayo diyan. Magpakatotoo na lang tayo pare-pareho,” he said in an interview on DZBB radio.

Lacson said Dizon called him over the weekend after he publicly discussed the “Slope Protection along Taguig River Project,” identified by Contract ID 220B0106.

According to Lacson, the geotagged photographs attached to the project’s billing reports contained coordinates pointing to three locations in Tacloban City, about 600 kilometers from Taguig.

He said DPWH records showed that St. Timothy Construction Corp., which he identified as owned by the Discaya family, was paid around PHP 96.5 million for the project.

Lacson said the project was not the only one flagged by inspection teams, but was highlighted because of the apparent discrepancy between its stated location and the coordinates in its billing photographs.

“Yan lang ang hinighlight ko kasi masyadong brazen, kasi (ang photos nakaturo sa lugar na) 600 km away,” he said.

He stressed that the flagged projects had not been conclusively declared as “ghost” projects, but said the findings also did not support a categorical claim that there were no such projects in Taguig.

“Hindi natin kino-conclude na ghost ito pero hindi rin nating pwedeng conclude na walang ghost sa Taguig. Isa lang yan. May project na verify nila, hindi nila makita ang proyekto kasi wala sa site, hindi na ma-establish kasi natakpan ng panibagong proyekto,” he said.

Lacson was referring to statements made by Dizon and DPWH Undersecretary Ricardo Bernabe III during last Friday’s Senate finance subcommittee hearing on the department’s proposed 2027 budget. He said Dizon had categorically said there were no ghost projects in Taguig, while Bernabe said all 107 projects in the city had accomplishments.

Lacson said Dizon, during their weekend call, apologized and claimed he had been “set up” when he made the statement before senators.

Lacson said he sent Dizon a recording of the hearing showing the secretary’s statement, followed by Bernabe’s assertion about the 107 projects.

He also said he was informed Sunday that a media organization trying to verify records on the slope protection project through the DPWH website found that the site was unavailable. According to Lacson, the website appeared to be accessible again after he raised the matter with Dizon.

The senator said the findings were particularly concerning because five DPWH inspection teams had been deployed to Taguig from July 23 to 25. The teams included personnel from the Bureau of Quality and Safety, Bureau of Construction, Bureau of Research and Standards, and Bureau of Maintenance.

Lacson said the inspection teams had identified red flags involving 68 projects.

“Sabi ko mag-ingat kayo dito. Pag nagko-cover up kayo magiging criminally liable kayo. At the very least, pwede kayong maging accessory after the fact kasi coverup,” he told Dizon.

Lacson also said Senate finance committee chairman Jose Victor “JV” Ejercito told him that Dizon had visited Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano’s office before the subcommittee hearing on the DPWH budget began.

Lacson said he was then presiding over a Commission on Appointments foreign relations committee hearing and had asked Ejercito about Dizon’s whereabouts.

“Tinanong ko si Sen JV, nasaan si Sec. Vince. Nandoon daw sa office ni Sen. Cayetano, naguusap sila,” Lacson said.

He said he was surprised by Dizon’s categorical denial of ghost projects in Taguig, particularly because he had been provided with documents concerning the projects.

Lacson said he could not accept Dizon’s statement that there were no ghost projects “as of now,” noting that the DPWH inspection reports were dated July 23 to 25.

“So ako naawa sa engineers nila. Kinontradict kayo ng sarili ninyong boss sa trabaho ninyo. Noong tumawag ni Sec. Vince sabi niya Sen. Ping nagulat ako sa Taguig na napunta sa Tacloban. Sabi ko nandiyan sa report nyo yan eh,” he said.

Lacson said he would continue examining alleged irregularities involving flood control and infrastructure projects, including those in Taguig.

He said his staff was also looking into projects allegedly concealed by newer projects built in the same areas, as well as “projects for hire” in which winning contractors allegedly allow other contractors to undertake the work in exchange for royalties.

Lacson said he would continue to support his allegations with documentary evidence.

“Ako naman, siguro naman na-establish ko ang aking credibility. Di ako nagsasalita nang walang resibo. Napaka-mindful ko pagdating sa fact-checking. Ayokong na-fact check ako at napapahiya ako. Di ako mag-e-expose nang di kumpleto ang resibo,” he said.