Cayetano likens Lacson's gradual release of charges to 'striptease'

Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday criticized Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson for his alleged gradual release of accusations against him, likening the latter’s actions to an “unsubstantiated striptease,” particularly concerning allegations involving infrastructure and reclamation projects in Taguig City. Cayetano made the pronouncement during a Facebook livestream, after Lacson noted that his office’s probe into the alleged anomalies in Taguig’s infrastructure and reclamation projects is making the minority leader “quake while quacking.” “Every day for the last three months, it’s like a striptease, but there’s no real evidence. Just constant accusations,” Cayetano said. “Why did I say witch hunt? Just looking for everything, even if there is none. It’s like you’re looking for a ghost. It’s not there. You’re making up a story,” Cayetano told Lacson. He then dared Lacson to end the “trial by publicity” by allowing the Office of the Ombudsman to do its job. According to Cayetano, he himself is cooperating “one hundred percent” with the Ombudsman. “No one is above the law. We welcome an honest-to-goodness, fair investigation,” he said. Cayetano then expressed confidence that the investigation will not only clear him, but will eventually reveal Lacson’s motive for repeatedly attacking him. “We are confident that once everything is submitted, we will not only be cleared, but the intention of Senator Ping will be seen,” he said. Meanwhile, on Saturday, Lacson responded to Cayetano, stating that he was right in mentioning that there were “ghosts” in Taguig. “True. There are so many ‘ghosts’ in the slope protection and flood mitigation projects along Taguig River. The Ombudsman is now investigating,” said Lacson in a social media post. The senator also bared that officials of the Taguig city hall reportedly tried to block investigators probing the reclamation project in the city alleged to be illegal. “The illegal reclamation is a separate case that they are also looking into, but they were blocked by city hall, so the SAF arrested them yesterday,” he disclosed. This exchange highlights ongoing political rivalries and accusations of corruption within the Philippines, particularly concerning lucrative infrastructure and reclamation projects. Cayetano's defense strategy appears to be one of full cooperation with the Ombudsman and portraying the accusations as baseless. Lacson, conversely, seems to be employing a tactic of gradually revealing information to build pressure and substantiate his claims. The situation raises questions about transparency and accountability in public works within the Philippines.