MANILA, Philippines — Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday called for a fair and fact-based investigation into questioned flood-control projects in Taguig City, saying irregularities such as incorrect geotagged coordinates should be thoroughly examined but should not automatically be treated as proof of a “ghost” project.
Cayetano made the statement as Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson challenged Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon’s initial statement that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) had found no ghost projects in Taguig.
Lacson had cited a DPWH inspection finding involving a Taguig project whose geotagged billing photographs contained coordinates pointing to Leyte, about 600 kilometers from the project site.
In a Facebook livestream, Cayetano said a ghost project should be distinguished from other possible irregularities, including inaccurate coordinates, substandard materials or incomplete construction.
“A ghost project means paid for, completed on paper, but there is nothing there,” Cayetano said.
He said an incorrect coordinate could be a red flag that warrants investigation but does not, by itself, establish that a project was nonexistent.
The controversy followed Dizon’s Sept. 25 statement during a Senate hearing that the DPWH had found no ghost projects in Taguig.
DPWH Undersecretary Ricardo Bernabe III said the department had identified 107 projects in the city, all with reported accomplishments.
Lacson subsequently questioned the statement, citing DPWH inspection reports that he said raised concerns about several Taguig projects.
Dizon later clarified that some projects remained under investigation and that initial findings had been submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman for further validation. Lacson said the clarification did not establish that there were no ghost projects in the city.
Cayetano denied that his relationship with Dizon had influenced the secretary’s findings and instead questioned Lacson’s own relationship with the DPWH chief.
He also accused Lacson of exercising influence beyond his role as a senator, alleging that he had been involved in discussions with several government agencies.
Cayetano questioned why, according to him, Lacson had access to investigation reports that he said had not been provided to him.
"Why does Sen. Lacson have complete copies of all the reports?” Cayetano asked.
Cayetano said he was not seeking to stop the investigation.
“I don't want this to be about Alan Cayetano or the City of Taguig,” he said, calling for all projects to be examined and the law to be applied equally.
He also said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive that “no one will be spared” should apply both to those found responsible and to those who are cleared.
“If someone is guilty, point to him even if he is close to the President. But it also means that if someone is innocent, you don't say he is guilty,” the senator said.
Cayetano reiterated his call for a thorough probe.
“100 percent fair investigation. Investigate everything,” he said, as he also urged Dizon to stand by the findings of the DPWH investigation.
“Asan ang paninindigan mo, Secretary Dizon (Where do you stand, Secretary Dizon)?" Cayetano said.
Malacañang has separately called for a deeper investigation into the questioned Taguig projects and said there should be no cover-up.
