Senator Panfilo Lacson on Monday said evidence being gathered on allegedly questionable infrastructure projects in Taguig City may be submitted directly to the Office of the Ombudsman, brought before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, or pursued through both channels.
“The ultimate destination nito, siyempre, Ombudsman (The ultimate destination of this, of course, is the Ombudsman),” Lacson said in a radio interview.
He said the documents could form part of the inquiry of the Blue Ribbon Committee or be immediately forwarded to the anti-graft body for fact-finding and possible preliminary investigation.
Lacson said his team is validating records covering PHP6.715 billion worth of projects implemented in Taguig under the 2025 General Appropriations Act, following his public exchange with Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano.
He alleged that some projects may be defective, substandard, overlapping or nonexistent, but underscored the information and documents remain subject to verification.
“Hindi naman tayo para mag-plant ng evidence (We are not here to plant evidence),” Lacson said, adding he would gather documentary and testimonial proof before pursuing formal action.
He said evidence collected by previous Blue Ribbon investigations had also been transmitted to the Ombudsman when committee reports failed to obtain enough signatures in the Senate.
Lacson expressed confidence that such records could assist the anti-graft body in determining whether sufficient grounds exist to file charges.
The senator said he is coordinating with Blue Ribbon Committee chair Senator Erwin Tulfo and would provide the panel with documents and names of possible resource persons for a future inquiry.
A privileged speech is also an option once the evidence becomes sufficiently clear, Lacson said, adding that presenting the records on the Senate floor would allow other senators to scrutinize and challenge his findings.
Among the information being checked is an allegation involving a Taguig city engineer whose casino transactions under two aliases supposedly reached nearly PHP500 million in recorded wins and losses.
Lacson clarified the figure represented the movement of money through wins and losses, not necessarily the amount won or lost by the official.
He also disclosed that former Taguig representative Lino Cayetano had allegedly expressed willingness, through an intermediary, to provide information on suspected ghost projects in the city.
Lacson said no meeting had been arranged with the former lawmaker as of the interview.
Senator Cayetano had earlier accused Lacson of targeting political opponents and questioned the increase in his net worth.
Lacson denied wrongdoing and said the rise came from legitimate real estate transactions conducted while he was outside government.
He maintained that the Taguig review concerns possible corruption and has no connection to the impeachment trial or the senators’ political positions.
“Walang kinalaman ang impeachment dito. Usapin ang corruption dito (The impeachment has nothing to do with this. The issue here is corruption),” Lacson said. (PNA)