Lacson Demands End to 'Impunity' Over Laguna Lake Reclamation in Taguig

Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson on Friday called for an end to what he described as the impunity surrounding alleged illegal reclamation projects on the Taguig side of Laguna Lake. "The Cayetanos have disguised these unabated and illegal reclamation operations in the Taguig side of Laguna Lake as flood control and mitigation projects for several years now, using their power and influence to harass officials of the PRA, LLDA and other agencies tasked to protect the lake," Lacson said in a statement. Taguig is the political bailiwick of Senator Alan Peter Cayetano. In a separate post on X Friday morning, Lacson cited a report on "24 Oras" showing the investigation into questionable projects in the Taguig portion of Laguna Lake began in late 2025. The senator said it was discovered that the city government failed to coordinate with concerned agencies and comply with other procedures. "Exposed! Impunity has its own limits. Maybe it’s time for justice and accountability to take over," Lacson said. Lacson, former chairperson of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, previously said he would pursue the investigation into the alleged anomalies in the flood control projects in Taguig after Cayetano questioned the increase in his declared net worth in 2025. In his latest count, Lacson said the number of allegedly anomalous flood management projects in the city has reached 32. A report dated October 2025 showed the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) had previously flagged the flood control projects in Taguig. It also said tarpaulins at the sites of two projects showed they were being implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). One project in Barangay Lower Bicutan listed Topnotch Catalyst Builders Inc. as its contractor and had a cost of P94,047,204.22, funded under the 2025 General Appropriations Act. At the Lakeshore Complex reclamation site, a tarpaulin showed a multipurpose building project costing P49,901,230.48. At an adjacent reclamation site, another tarpaulin indicated a project for the "improvement of Laguna Lakeshore area," with Topnotch Catalyst Builders as the contractor, and with a cost of P94,066,688.38. Two other projects in the Taguig portion of Laguna Lake involved the rehabilitation of flood mitigation structures, one at Phase 4 and the other at Phase 5. Both had Dahl Construction Corp. as contractor, and a similar cost of P141,854,714.79 for Phase 4 and P141,854,617.45 for Phase 5. The LLDA said the Taguig City government did not coordinate with it on the projects. LLDA general manager Leopoldo Parumog said a public consultation and the needed certificates are needed before any construction can begin in the area. Lacson said some PRA officials earlier accused Cayetano of allegedly harassing their colleagues during deliberations for the 2026 budget last November. "That’s why Cayetano harassed the PRA officials during the November 2025 budget plenary deliberations of the Office of the President, PRA being under the OP. That’s as revealed to us by the PRA officials when we met with them early this week," he added. GMA News Online is trying to get the side of Cayetano.