Lacson: Flood control probe must be evidence-based, obstruction-free

Senator Panfilo Lacson on Saturday called for an evidence-based investigation into flood control projects that is free from obstruction. This came after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla reported that the Taguig City Hall attempted to prevent his office from conducting its investigation. In a social media post, Lacson said Senator Alan Peter Cayetano's remarks on the flood control probe exposed his ignorance on the complex investigation process. "It only proves Sen Cayetano’s ignorance of how an investigation of flood control anomalies and other sophisticated corruption cases works. It must be deliberate, methodical and thorough; not hasty nor sloppy," Lacson said. In a separate statement, Cayetano said he could answer Lacson's allegations "point by point", but chooses instead to focus on addressing the needs of Filipinos, especially flood victims. “Although I can answer him (Lacson) point by point… There are more important and urgent things like taking care of people with immediate needs,” he said. “Araw-araw for the last three months, parang striptease tapos wala namang tunay na ebidensya, panay po akusasyon,” he said. (Every day for the last three months, it’s been like a striptease, but there’s still no real evidence—just accusations.) Remulla had said an employee of the Taguig city government tried to prevent Ombudsman investigators from flying a drone to take photographs of the area. In a dzBB report on Saturday, the Taguig LGU clarified that its Public Order and Safety Office did not hinder the Ombudsman's ongoing investigation following the incident that occurred on Friday morning. In a statement, the LGU said personnel from its Public Order and Safety Office spotted a black pickup truck parked along the C-6 Road in Taguig. The people inside the vehicle were wearing civilian clothes and reportedly conducting a drone operation in the area. The two sides engaged in a heated exchange after the people in the vehicle identified themselves as from the Office of the Ombudsman. Both parties ended up in a police station where they reached an agreement, and no complaints were filed. The LGU maintained that its personnel were only performing their duties to help ensure the safety and security of Taguig residents. Cayetano and Lacson recently engaged in a verbal tussle after the former accused the latter of initiating a “demolition job” over claims on the infrastructure projects in Taguig City. Lacson, in response, dismissed Cayetano's accusation as "pathetic." To which Cayetano replied, "Hinahanap lang lahat eh. 'Yung kahit wala, 'yung parang naghanap ka ng multo na wala doon, gumagawa ng storya." (They’re just trying to find something, even when there’s nothing there. It's like looking for a ghost that doesn’t exist and then creating a story around it.) —Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA News