Lacson: Cayetano belongs in QC jail over alleged corruption

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Panfilo Lacson on Sunday fired back at Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, saying the latter belongs in the Quezon City jail over alleged corruption. This came after Cayetano claimed that Lacson’s and Senator Erwin Tulfo’s net worth had more than doubled. Lacson denied the allegations on Saturday, saying his earnings were legitimate and came from real estate deals and other businesses. He continued his defense on Sunday, saying his integrity was his “first and last line of defense” and that “Sen. Cayetano has crossed the line by attacking it.” READ: Lacson denies Cayetano claim that his net worth had doubled “As of this morning, I’m still counting informants and witnesses, directly or through intermediaries, willing to provide information and evidence to put him in his proper place – the Payatas, QC jail,” Lacson wrote in a post on X. He alleged on Saturday that Cayetano made P6.79 billion in budget insertions under the 2025 national budget, unlike him, who had never made budget insertions since becoming a senator. He also claimed there were ghost projects in Taguig City, Cayetano’s bailiwick. “Out of his P6.79B budget insertions under the 2025 GAA [General Appropriations Act], 68 out of the 70 projects were implemented. So, only 2 projects, equivalent to around P75M are left unreleased or unobligated. In short, a total of P6.715B ang nagastos. While you do the math, we will keep digging,” Lacson added. READ: Lacson: I was a victim of fake news 17 years ago In a separate post on X, Lacson recalled an instance when the late former Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Victor Corpus and Ador Mawanay accused him of involvement in illegal drugs and of having huge amounts of money in foreign banks. Corpus and Mawanay later retracted their accusations and apologized to Lacson. Lacson said he “didn’t back down and proved them wrong,” emphasizing that “integrity is my most precious inheritance from my late parents, despite our poverty – not through lectures and reminders, but by the power of their own examples.” The INQUIRER sought Cayetano’s comment on Lacson’s remarks but has yet to receive a response. /mcm