By el Amigo
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Panfilo Lacson has turned over documentary and testimonial evidence to the Office of the Ombudsman in relation to alleged irregularities involving infrastructure projects in Taguig City.
Lacson said the documents were gathered through research conducted by his office using government records and information from confidential sources. He expressed hope that the materials would aid the Ombudsman’s ongoing efforts to investigate possible anomalies in public infrastructure projects.
The senator said the evidence may warrant further examination by the Ombudsman for possible violations of existing anti-corruption laws, including plunder, malversation of public funds, and the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. He emphasised, however, that the determination of whether charges should be filed rests solely with the investigating authorities.
“We hope the excellent research and investigative work that my staff did in this regard won’t be wasted and will contribute to the Ombudsman’s efforts to expedite their investigation,” Lacson said.
He added that his office remains committed to providing any additional information or documents that may assist government investigators.
According to Lacson, his team’s findings indicate that certain infrastructure projects undertaken in Taguig between 2020 and 2025 merit closer scrutiny. He alleged that some projects may have involved irregular practices, including possible duplicate appropriations and discrepancies in project documentation.
Lacson also claimed that the projects being examined have an estimated total value of ₱14.4 billion. He declined to identify any specific individual allegedly connected to the questioned transactions, saying the matter should be properly addressed through official investigative processes.
The submission of evidence comes amid public discussions among senators regarding government infrastructure spending and the conduct of Senate investigations.
Senator Alan Peter Cayetano had earlier criticised Senators Lacson and Erwin Tulfo over issues related to the inquiry. In separate statements, Tulfo alleged that there were efforts to discourage the continuation of Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearings concerning the matter.
The Office of the Ombudsman has yet to announce whether it will initiate formal proceedings based on the documents submitted by Lacson. No court or government agency has made any finding of criminal or administrative liability against any person in connection with the allegations.
The matter remains under review and is subject to the appropriate legal and investigative processes.
elamigo/xf
