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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Lacson says Taguig ghost project probe opens 'cauldron of worms'; seeks forfeiture of reclaimed land in favor of government

Lacson says Taguig ghost project probe opens 'cauldron of worms'; seeks forfeiture of reclaimed land in favor of government

Published Aug 4, 2026 10:59 am

At A Glance

  • Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson said his team's finding was validated by officials of the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) officials after a meeting on Monday evening.
Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano may end up drowning in truth after all as Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson and his team has uncovered a “cauldron of worms” involving ghost slope projection projects in Taguig City, the minority leader’s political bailiwick.
Lacson said this includes harassment tactics employed by the senator, and illegal reclamation of portions of Laguna Lake that he said should be forfeited in favor of the government.
According to Lacson, his team’s finding was validated by officials of the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) officials after a meeting on Monday evening. 
The PRA is under the Office of the President."'MALULUNOD SA KATOTOHAHAN' ... Our Taguig City case study has opened a 'cauldron of worms' after my meeting with Philippine Reclamation Authority officials last night - from ghost slope protection projects to illegally reclaimed tracts of land covering Laguna Lake," he said on X.
"Aside from the PRA and the Ombudsman, we will closely coordinate with the DPWH central office, LLDA and other concerned agencies not only to jail the crooks behind these grossly anomalous and patently illegal activities but also forfeit the already reclaimed Lakeshore areas in favor of the national government. There is no turning back!" he added.
https://x.com/iampinglacson/status/2084432123054932127
The former national police chief said PRA officials confirmed the harassment tactics employed by Cayetano during budget deliberations last November 2025, when the budget for the Office of the President was taken up for plenary debates. 
"The same officials, likewise, disclosed physical intimidation when they conducted on site inspection along C6 in the Lakeshore area where the illegal reclamation activities are taking place," he said.
Last weekend, Lacson cited evidence linking the former Senate President to reclamation projects along Taguig’s lakeshore development that lacked the required permits from agencies including the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).The projects were funded using appropriations in the national budget that were meant for slope protection projects.
At the time, the resource persons who knew about this were harassed and intimidated, especially during committee hearings, he said.Also last week, Lacson and his team turned over to the Office of the Ombudsman the evidence they gathered from at least five case studies on anomalous infrastructure projects in Taguig City.
According to Lacson, the evidence points to Cayetano virtually controlling Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) operations and other related activities in Taguig City, with district engineers being replaced if they acted without his approval.
Lacson also bared a possible 33-percent kickback structure in infrastructure projects in Taguig City.

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