Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Wednesday said the public could ‘partake’ of the ‘delicious’ details surrounding alleged anomalous infrastructure projects in Taguig by watching the Senate blue ribbon panel hearings.
Taguig is the political bailiwick of Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano.
‘Malicious but delicious’ – he seems to be giving in. He’s saying all sorts of things,’ Lacson wrote in Filipino in a post on X.
‘The public may partake of the ‘delicious’ part if they watch the Blue Ribbon Committee hearings where the details of the truth behind the five Taguig case studies that we submitted to the Ombudsman will be exposed,’ he added.
Lacson made the remark after Cayetano on Tuesday described the accusations involving Taguig projects as ‘malicious,’ quipping that ‘malicious’ meant ‘mali,’ or wrong, but ‘delicious’ because it sounded good.
Lacson on Tuesday announced that his office had turned over to the Office of the Ombudsman all the documentary and testimonial evidence that he said may support cases for plunder, malversation, and violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act against those responsible.
He alleged that his office’s investigation in Taguig uncovered irregularities, including ghost projects, double appropriations, and the use of recycled photos from previously completed contracts to bill and collect for new ones.
Lacson’s inquiry into infrastructure projects in Taguig was prompted by an escalating feud between him and Cayetano.
Cayetano has maintained that there are no ghost projects in the city and described Lacson’s accusations as ‘general’ and ‘sweeping.’
He also said he was prepared to answer the accusations and that the public deserved to know the ‘whole truth’ through the proper process.
Meanwhile, Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chair Sen. Erwin Tulfo said on Tuesday that he was considering holding a hearing the following week on alleged anomalies in flood control projects.
Tulfo also accused members of the Senate minority bloc of trying to prevent the committee from proceeding with the investigation.
Asked who from the minority was seeking to stop the hearing, Tulfo did not name anyone but said, ‘Obvious. Who is being investigated? Who is Senator Lacson targeting?’