MANILA — Senator Panfilo Lacson on Monday disclosed that former Taguig congressman Lino Cayetano has expressed willingness to assist in an ongoing inquiry into alleged ghost projects in the city.
According to Lacson, the offer was relayed to him through an intermediary, with Lino allegedly saying he possesses information about projects in Taguig that were never implemented.
“Someone reached out through an intermediary and said Lino wanted to get in touch because he wants to help with the investigation. He said he knows of many ghost projects in Taguig,” Lacson said during a radio interview with Ted Failon and DJ Chacha.
The senator said his office has already been examining what he described as questionable or defective projects involving companies linked to the Discaya family during the period when Senator Alan Cayetano served as Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Lacson said the information could help establish whether ghost projects indeed existed in Taguig, stressing that any findings would be supported by evidence.
“We will verify these allegations and determine whether there are really ghost projects in Taguig,” he said, adding that he has no intention of fabricating evidence and would instead work to substantiate any claims.
Lino Cayetano currently serves as general manager of state-run People’s Television Network (PTV-4).
Responding to Lacson’s statements during a Facebook livestream, Senator Alan Cayetano questioned why Taguig had become the subject of scrutiny, saying the city has not experienced the severe flooding seen in other parts of Metro Manila.
He also denied the insinuations involving the Discaya family and pointed out that photographs circulating publicly showed Lacson, not him, with members of the family.
“Apart from that, who is seen in photos with the Discayas? Isn’t it Senator Ping Lacson? Yet I’m the one being investigated, not him,” Cayetano said.
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