Lacson rejects alleged ceasefire offer on anomalies in Taguig flood control projects

Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Thursday rejected an alleged “ceasefire” offer, claiming it was made following his exposé involving alleged anomalies in flood control projects in Taguig City. Lacson described the offer as "hypocrisy aimed at buying time to recover and reconsolidate for his next sneaky move." "Ceasefire my foot! What kind of man declares war, armed with a toy gun and with just his saliva as ammunition, then uses intermediaries to ask for a ceasefire when confronted by real bombs?" Lacson said on X (formerly Twitter). The development came days after his office turned over documentary and testimonial evidence gathered in relation to alleged anomalies, including supposed double billing and collection involving infrastructure projects in Taguig, to the Office of the Ombudsman. Lacson linked the findings to Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, who had earlier refuted claims of ghost infrastructure projects in Taguig City and called for an investigation in other cities in Metro Manila. Incidentally, Cayetano's wife, Lani, is the current mayor of Taguig. According to Lacson, he would also present "delicious" details of the anomalies during the continuation of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearings on the flood control scandal. Lacson, a former chairperson of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, had also accused Cayetano of securing budget insertions amounting to P6.79 billion. Several projects in Taguig were also allegedly left unfinished, Lacson said. In a later statement, Lacson said he was gathering enough witnesses and evidence that could show Cayetano's involvement in the alleged corruption. Cayetano has since denied any involvement in the alleged anomalies. He welcomed Lacson’s submission of evidence to the Ombudsman, stating he would answer the allegations in the proper forum. He expressed surprise that alleged anomalies in Taguig were being compared with those in Bulacan, but reiterated his readiness to face the accusations. Source: GMA News Philippines