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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Lacson calls for end to impunity in illegal reclamation ops in Taguig

Lacson calls for end to impunity in illegal reclamation ops in Taguig

Published Aug 7, 2026 01:26 pm

At A Glance

  • Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson noted that the operations had been allowed to continue even though there were questions over their legality and effectiveness in addressing flooding in Taguig City.
Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano (extreme right) with her husband, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano (center) and sister-in-law, Sen. Pia Cayetano (Photo from Mayor Cayetano's Facebook account)
Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano (extreme right) with her husband, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano (center) and sister-in-law, Sen. Pia Cayetano (Photo from Mayor Cayetano's Facebook account)


Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Friday, August 7 called for an end to the impunity that has accompanied the unabated and illegal reclamation operations disguised as flood control and mitigation projects in the Taguig side of Laguna Lake for several years.

A photo from the Office of Senator Ping Lacson shows a
A photo from the Office of Senator Ping Lacson shows a "sample" of apparent ghost infrastructure projects in Taguig City (OS Lacson)
Lacson said these illegal activities in the political bailiwick of Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano and his wife, Mayor Lani Cayetano, must end and give way to justice and accountability.

Lacson noted that the operations had been allowed to continue even though there were questions over their legality and effectiveness in addressing flooding in Taguig City.

All these, while the Cayetanos wielded their power and influence to harass officials of the agencies tasked to protect Laguna Lake, the senator said.

“The Cayetanos have disguised these unabated and illegal reclamation operations in the Taguig side of Laguna Lake as flood control and mitigation projects for several years now, using their power and influence to harass officials of the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA), Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) and other agencies tasked to protect the lake,” Lacson said.

He also said that based on his team's latest count, the number of “grossly anomalous flood control projects” in the area have reached 32 and is still counting.

In a post on X, Friday morning, the former national police chief cited a report on "24 Oras" showing the investigation into questionable projects in the Taguig portion of Laguna Lake began in late 2025 after it was discovered that the city government failed to coordinate with concerned agencies and comply with other procedures.

According to Lacson, the former Senate president had harassed officials of the PRA while the probe was ongoing.

“Exposed! Impunity has its own limits. Maybe it’s time for justice and accountability to take over,”  said Lacson, who earned a reputation for his anti-corruption advocacy.

https://x.com/iampinglacson/status/2085514526385209458

Based on the report, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) had flagged flood control projects in Taguig City as early as October 2025.

It said tarpaulins at the sites of two projects showed they were being implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). One project in Barangay Lower Bicutan listed Topnotch Catalyst Builders Inc. as its contractor and had a cost of P94,047,204.22, funded under the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA).

At the Lakeshore Complex reclamation site, a tarpaulin showed a multi-purpose building project costing P49,901,230.48. At an adjacent reclamation site, another tarpaulin indicated a project for the "improvement of Laguna Lakeshore area," with Topnotch Catalyst Builders as the contractor, and with a cost of P94,066,688.38.

Two other projects in the Taguig portion of Laguna Lake involved the rehabilitation of flood mitigation structures, one at Phase 4 and the other at Phase 5. Both had Dahl Construction Corp. as contractor, and a similar cost of P141,854,714.79 for Phase 4 and P141,854,617.45 for Phase 5.

The LLDA claimed the Taguig City government did not coordinate with it on the projects. LLDA general manager Leopoldo Parumog said a public consultation and the needed certificates are needed before any construction can begin in the area.

Lacson also recalled that PRA officials who met with him and his staff earlier this week revealed that Cayetano harassed their colleagues during deliberations for the 2026 budget last November.

“That’s why Cayetano harassed the PRA officials during the November 2025 budget plenary deliberations of the Office of the President, PRA being under the OP. That’s as revealed to us by the PRA officials when we met with them early this week,” he said.

Related Tags

Taguig ghost projects Alan Cayetano Ping Lacson reclamation projects
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