Tulfo sets up Cayetano versus Cayetano at BRC
Tulfo said the panel would invite PTV general manager Lino Cayetano, brother of the senator.
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Tulfo said the panel would invite PTV general manager Lino Cayetano, brother of the senator.
The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee (BRC) will resume its investigation into alleged flood control anomalies after Congress reconvenes following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address on 27 July, with projects in Taguig expected to be among those examined.
BRC chair Senator Erwin Tulfo made the assurance after Senate Minority Leader Alan Cayetano repeatedly urged the committee to reopen the probe, claiming administration allies were delaying the investigation while the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte was underway.
Tulfo said the panel would invite PTV general manager Lino Cayetano, brother of the senator, after Lino called for an audit of more than P6 billion worth of flood control and infrastructure projects implemented in Taguig from 2022 to 2025.
“That probably needs to be looked into more closely. I did not make the statement, but his brother did. So I’ll give the brother a chance. I’ll invite him to our first hearing,” Tulfo said in Filipino.
Senator Cayetano denied there were “ghost projects” in Taguig, saying the Office of the Ombudsman had already begun a preliminary investigation last year but had yet to produce evidence supporting the allegation.
“There are no ghost projects in Taguig. If anyone can prove otherwise, someone will be held accountable,” he said in a Facebook Live broadcast.
He accused former Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chair Ping Lacson of influencing the investigation and claimed the inclusion of Taguig was politically motivated.
Ping-Lacson tiff
The latest exchange came after Lacson alleged that Cayetano inserted P6.79 billion worth of projects into the 2025 national budget, including two projects worth P75 million each that were allegedly never implemented.
Lacson also alleged that Taguig’s city engineer was a frequent casino gambler.
Cayetano, in turn, questioned the increase in Lacson’s net worth between 2022 and 2025, prompting Lacson to accuse the senator of attacking his integrity and to vow to pursue evidence against him.
Tulfo denied allegations that the committee had abandoned the flood control probe, saying hearings would resume once its membership is completed. He also criticized Cayetano for failing to attend previous hearings despite being a committee member.
The senator said the committee remains open to hearing former security aides of former Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co, but only if they execute separate affidavits instead of a joint statement.
Tulfo said the panel would focus on new evidence and avoid repeating allegations already under investigation by the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice.
Former bodyguards of Co have alleged they delivered suitcases of cash from kickbacks tied to ghost or substandard flood control projects to several lawmakers.
Tulfo, who was among those named, has denied the allegations and said he is willing to resign if documentary proof is presented.
