Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson has accused the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Taguig City of allowing multiple contractors to justify separate slope protection projects using identical geotagged photographs, raising questions of fraud and political control.
In a statement Friday, Lacson said his team conducted five case studies in Taguig and found recurring irregularities: recycled project photos submitted for billing, overlapping spans of flood-control works, and double appropriations for the same project.
“Cayetano claims there is no flood control anomaly or ghost project in Taguig. That’s what he says, but records and documents say otherwise,” Lacson told DZBB, referring to Senator Alan Peter Cayetano.
Lacson’s office released four photos allegedly tied to different contractors but showing the same riverbank area. He further alleged the existence of a 33-percent kickback scheme, broken down into shares for principals, “for the boys,” Bids and Awards Committee members, and DPWH officials, echoing testimony from a former DPWH undersecretary in earlier Senate hearings.
The senator claimed Cayetano exercises control over DPWH operations in Taguig, with district engineers replaced if they resisted directives.
“DPWH operations in Taguig are virtually controlled by one person. No one can move without Cayetano’s knowledge,” Lacson said.
The Office of the Ombudsman confirmed receipt of Lacson’s evidence. Ombudsman Boying Remulla said the submissions will undergo evaluation before any case is filed.
“The standard here is that before we file, we must ensure the evidence is complete,” Remulla noted. # (RRN)
