Senator Alan Peter Cayetano has renewed his invitation to Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson and his staff, as well as the public, to personally inspect infrastructure projects in Taguig, insisting that allegations of ghost projects and irregularities can be disproven through on-site verification.
During a Facebook Live broadcast on Saturday, August 1, Cayetano said the public should look beyond documents and photographs to verify whether government-funded projects have actually been completed.
“I will continue to invite, not only Senator Lacson, not only his staff, but everyone. Iba kasi 'yung sa papel, papel. Iba 'yung sa picture, picture. Tignan niyo 'yung budget. Pumunta kayo sa lugar. Makikita niyo na nandiyan talaga 'yung project at magaganda,” Cayetano said.
He also assured the public that his camp is prepared to answer all allegations being raised against them.
“Let me assure you na lahat ng allegations na binabato sa amin ay masasagot. Let me assure you na maayos dito sa Taguig. As I keep saying, to the best of my knowledge, walang ghost project dito,” he added.
Cayetano's remarks came in response to allegations previously made by Lacson, who claimed that kickbacks in Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) infrastructure projects in Taguig reached as much as 33 percent per project. According to Lacson, the alleged scheme forced contractors to deliver substandard infrastructures or abandon "ghost" projects.
The senator also said his camp has gathered documentary evidence, including what he described as a money trail, which he has already begun to submit to the Office of the Ombudsman for investigation.
Lacson linked the alleged anomalies to Cayetano, who has repeatedly denied the accusations and challenged authorities to conduct investigations into infrastructure projects in other Metro Manila local government units.
Cayetano's wife, Mayor Lani Cayetano, currently heads the city government of Taguig. As of writing, no formal findings have been issued by the Ombudsman regarding the allegations, while both camps continue to stand by their respective positions.
