Cayetano wants flood control probe beyond Taguig

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Sunday called for an investigation into flood control projects in other cities, not just Taguig City, amid plans by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee (BRC) to resume its probe into alleged anomalous projects. Cayetano made the remarks during a Facebook Live broadcast, challenging Senator Panfilo Lacson to investigate projects in other cities to show that he was not singling out one individual. “Di ko sinasabing may problema ang mga city na ’yan. Ang sinasabi ko, ipakita ni Senator Lacson na hindi inis lang siya sa isang tao,” Cayetano said. (I’m not saying there are problems in those cities. What I’m saying is that Senator Lacson should show that he is not singling out just one person.) “Paano naman tayo dumating doon? Hindi mo lang type ’yung isang tao, gusto mo nang ikulong,” he added. (How did we end up there? Just because you don't like someone, you already want to put them in jail.) GMA News Online has sought Lacson's comment on the matter. In an earlier statement on Sunday, Lacson decried Cayetano's attacks on his integrity and said he was counting informants and witnesses who were willing to provide information and evidence that could put the latter in jail. “My integrity is my first and last line of defense and I will fight to defend it with all my might. Sen Cayetano has crossed the line by attacking it,” Lacson said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. “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,” he added. Meanwhile, Senator Erwin Tulfo said that once the BRC resumes its hearings, the committee will invite Cayetano’s younger brother, PTV general manager Lino Cayetano, along with other resource persons, to participate in the investigation into alleged ghost flood control projects in Taguig City. “Parang may alam siya [Lino Cayetano] kasi, bakit mo paiimbestigahan ang flood control sa lugar mo kung wala ka naman talagang alam. Mukhang may alam siya na hindi siya natutuwa. 2022 hanggang 2025 daw. We will invite him kasama nung mga bodyguard [ni dating Cong. Zaldy Co],” Tulfo told Super Radyo dzBB. (It appears Lino has information, because why would he call for an investigation into flood control projects in his own area if he did not know anything about them? It seems he knows something that he is unhappy about. He said it covers 2022 to 2025. We will invite him, along with the bodyguards of former congressman Zaldy Co.) The elder Cayetano refuted the allegations, saying investigations had already been conducted and that no ghost flood control projects were found in Taguig. “May alam din po akong law enforcement agency. Tumingin na walang nakita. Of course, we do our due diligence. Ako mismo pati opisina,” Cayetano said. (I also know of a law enforcement agency that looked into it and found nothing. Of course, we did our due diligence. I personally did so, along with my office.) “Wala pong ghost project sa Taguig. At kung may mapapakita po kayo, mananagot,” he added. (There are no ghost projects in Taguig. And if you can show proof that there are, those responsible will be held accountable.) In a Facebook Live broadcast on Saturday, Cayetano questioned the Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs) of Lacson and BRC chairperson Erwin Tulfo. “Kay Senator Lacson, ’di ba, ano ’yung actual? I didn’t really pay that much attention, pero parang dumoble ’yung kanyang SALN,” Cayetano said. (Regarding Senator Lacson, what is the actual figure? I didn’t really pay that much attention, but it appears that his net worth in his SALN doubled.) He also questioned the arrests of minority Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Rodante Marcoleta and described them, along with former lawmaker Mike Defensor, as “political prisoners.” Lacson denied Cayetano's claims, saying he earned his money legitimately through private businesses. He said his income increased only after he left government service, as could be verified through his income tax returns.— MCG, GMA News