By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA, Philippines — At least PHP3.713 billion in public funds may have been spent on flood control and infrastructure projects constructed on areas of the Laguna lakeshore in Taguig City that Sen. Panfilo Lacson claims were illegally reclaimed and covered by questionable land titles.
Lacson said the estimate covers completed, ongoing and suspended Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) projects located within the allegedly unlawful reclamation areas.
The senator said the amount could rise further, noting that his tally does not include other flood mitigation and slope protection projects along the Taguig River that he alleged involved double appropriations and supposed “ghost” projects.
“These do not include other anomalous Slope Protection and Flood Mitigation projects along Taguig river involving double appropriations and ‘ghost’ projects using recycled photographs in different ‘completed’ projects, for billing purposes,” Lacson said.
Lacson said the findings would be formally submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman, with the senator stressing that his allegations are backed by official government documents and records gathered during the Senate inquiry.
He also dismissed possible claims that the allegations were based merely on speculation or political accusations.
“Pag ganito ka-detalyado at may pinaghugutan pang official records, mahirap sigurong paniwalaan na ‘fake news,’” Lacson said.
(When it’s this detailed and backed by official records, it’s probably difficult to believe that it’s “fake news.”)
The senator’s latest disclosure came a day after he identified four parcels of allegedly illegally reclaimed land in Taguig that he said were covered by “fraudulently” issued titles.
Lacson said at least four other parcels allegedly had no corresponding plotted title lots in the digital records of the Land Registration Authority.
The senator presented the details as part of his continuing investigation into alleged irregularities surrounding infrastructure projects in the Taguig lakeshore area.
He also released information on the disputed titles after Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano rejected the allegations as false. Cayetano is a former Taguig mayor and congressman, while members of his family have also held key positions in the city government.
According to Lacson, two of the four properties were covered by Original Certificates of Title.
One involved a 9,204-square-meter property covered by an administrative patent, while another measured 5,000 square meters and was secured through judicial land registration.
The remaining two properties were covered by Transfer Certificates of Title and measured 181,077 square meters and 193,027 square meters, respectively.
Lacson’s disclosures put the spotlight on the intersection of questionable land reclamation, government infrastructure spending and alleged irregularities in project implementation, with the senator indicating that documentary evidence will form part of the records to be submitted to the Ombudsman for further investigation.
ia/xf
