Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said on Monday, August 31 that at least P3.713-billion in public funds may have been wasted on projects along areas of Laguna Lake in Taguig City that are subject to government action over “illegal” reclamation.

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano (left), Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson (Senate PRIB)

Lacson said this latest finding will be among the pieces of evidence he and his team will send to the Office of the Ombudsman’s fact-finding team “for proper disposition" as his feud with Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano continues.

“WASTED PUBLIC FUNDS DUE TO MISUSE: Based on official records and our investigation, the total cost of Identified completed, ongoing (and suspended) DPWH Flood Control and Multi-Purpose Projects along the ‘illegal’ Laguna Lakeshore Reclamation Areas in Taguig City has so far reached ₱3.713 billion,” Lacson said in a post on X.

https://twitter.com/iampinglacson/status/2094230183834484841

“These do not include other anomalous Slope Protection and Flood Mitigation projects along Taguig River involving double appropriations and 'ghost' projects using recycled photographs in different 'completed' projects, for billing purposes,” he added.

Lacson, citing official records and his and his team's investigation, identified the top five contractors involved in projects covering P2.372-billion as:

1) Dahl Construction: ₱858.22-million covering five solo projects worth P571.5-million and four joint ventures totaling ₱286.7-million;

2) J.C. Uyecio: ₱483.1 million covering four joint ventures;

3) Toughbuilt: ₱434.2 million covering three solo projects;

4) Topnotch: ₱329.9 Million covering two joint ventures with Core Check and one with Beam Team; and

5) GR Fervidal: ₱266.6 Million covering five solo multi-purpose building projects

Moreover, Lacson said all of the multipurpose building projects of GR Fervidal were suspended due to a “revision of plans” involving soil re-investigation.

Earlier, Lacson said Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon assured him that the DPWH would immediately issue cease-and-desist orders on projects linked to the illegal reclamation once he receives the appropriate requests from the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA).

This is to prevent further waste of government funds on contractors carrying out unauthorized or illegal activities, he said.

On Sunday, Dizon had said the DPWH has already issued the cease-and-desist orders, following a directive from the Office of the President coursed through the PRA.

On Saturday, Lacson revealed that at least four parcels of illegally reclaimed land in Taguig City had been initially identified as covered by “fraudulently” issued land titles while at least four other parcels have no plotted title lots in the Land Registration Authority (LRA)'s digital file.

Lacson was prompted to make the disclosure after Cayetano insinuated that his earlier findings on the illegal reclamation activities were “fake news.”

But on Sunday, August 30, Cayetano, whose political bailiwick is Taguig City, said that the government stands to gain if allegations of illegally titled properties along Laguna Lake in Taguig are proven true.

Speaking at the 44th anniversary of Mandaport Apostolic Pentecostals (MAP) Church, Cayetano said the roughly 18-hectare property could ultimately benefit the government if the allegation surrounding its title is established.

“May isang nasa dyaryo kahapon na (nagsabi na may) 181,000 square meters o 18 hectares daw na ‘illegally titled.’ Sa isang banda po, nagho-hope din kami na totoo iyon. Bakit? Kasi kung totoong illegal iyon, sa gobyerno iyon (mapupunta), eh di may 18 hectares tayo ngayon para sa gobyerno (There was a report in the newspaper yesterday stating that there are 181,000 square meters—or 18 hectares—that are supposedly ‘illegally titled.’ On one hand, we actually hope that is true. Why? Because if it really is illegal, the property would revert to the government; that means we would have 18 hectares now for the government),” he said.

The minority leader said he welcomes the scrutiny of land titles in the area, noting that City of Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano had also long wanted the properties examined.

“Katulad ngayon na gusto nilang tingnan lahat ng titulo, matagal na pong gusto ni Lani iyon ( Just like now, when they want to examine all the titles—Lani has wanted to do that for a long time),” he said.