Senator Alan Cayetano seemed unfazed and even supported the administration’s crackdown against Taguig’s “illegal” reclamation efforts in Laguna de Bay, saying that if the allegations of land-grabbing are proven true, then the government stands to benefit from the reversion.

However, Senator Ping Lacson contended on Monday that Cayetano’s argument was misplaced because the government had already invested a staggering P3.713 billion in projects now at risk of going to waste due to the land dispute.

“Wasted public funds due to misuse: Based on official records and our investigation, the total cost of identified completed, ongoing (and suspended) DPWH Flood Control and Multi-Purpose Projects along the ‘illegal’ Laguna Lakeshore Reclamation Areas in Taguig City has so far reached P3.713 billion,” Lacson said in a post on X.

The amount does not yet include other flood control projects suspected of being potentially anomalous, including slope protection and flood mitigation projects along the Taguig River.

Lacson said the scheme involved double billing and “ghost” projects using recycled photos from previously completed contracts to justify billing and payment for purportedly new projects.

‘Theatrics, political persecution’

In a Facebook post on Monday, Cayetano fired back at Lacson for employing “misleading accusations,” and accused him of weaponizing the so-called findings by his office to allegedly smear a political opponent. The Senate minority derided Lacson’s latest attacks as “theatrics,” urging him to leave the investigation to the proper authorities and stop turning the issue into a spectacle.

“To be fair — if there is evidence against DPWH, Taguig, or against me, then present it. Allow the investigative offices (like the Office of the Ombudsman) to do their job,” Cayetano stressed.

He also accused Lacson of intimidating witnesses and even agencies, then making announcements on their behalf.