MANILA — Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said Saturday that people who challenge Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson could become targets of investigations, as the two senators continued their dispute over alleged irregular infrastructure and reclamation projects in Taguig City.
Cayetano made the claim during a Facebook livestream, referring to Lacson’s ongoing probe into alleged “ghost” infrastructure projects and reclamation activities in Taguig, which Cayetano considers his political base.
“There are indeed other government infrastructure projects where the existence of ‘ghost’ projects was proven, yet there is silence — no investigation,” Cayetano said. “So, what is their response? Their response is that it shouldn’t be Taguig, it shouldn’t be Alan, and the Cayetanos shouldn’t be held accountable.”
Cayetano suggested that Lacson’s investigations could prioritize people who oppose him or criticize him on issues he does not favor.
“If you patch things up and follow Sen. Lacson, it’s quiet. But if you stand your ground — if you speak up on any issue he dislikes — you become a priority target,” Cayetano said.
Lacson previously rejected Cayetano’s accusation that his Taguig investigation amounted to “selective justice.” He said he was prioritizing the inquiry rather than selectively applying the law.
The exchange followed Cayetano’s challenge for Lacson to investigate alleged irregular projects in other areas to demonstrate that his probe does not single out Taguig.
Lacson has expanded his inquiry to include alleged irregularities involving infrastructure projects and reclamation activities in Taguig and Laguna Lake. He has also turned over evidence gathered during the probe to the Office of the Ombudsman.
The dispute between the senators intensified after Cayetano questioned the increase in Lacson’s personal net worth. Lacson later raised allegations involving projects in Taguig, prompting the continuing exchange between the two lawmakers.
Cayetano has maintained that he is willing to face allegations involving projects in Taguig and has challenged Lacson to identify the specific projects he considers anomalous.