Demolition job? Cayetano, Lacson fuel clash over Taguig infra projects

Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano has accused Senator Panfilo Lacson of initiating a “demolition job” over claims on the infrastructure projects in Taguig City---a move which the latter dismissed as “pathetic.”

On a Facebook livestream on Wednesday, Cayetano cried foul over the “trial by publicity” supposedly being conducted by Lacson, who has been scrutinizing the political turf of the Senate Minority Leader for alleged ghost and anomalous projects.

“Yes, tahasang ko pong sinasabi na si Senator Panfilo Lacson ay gumagawa ng isang demolition job, ng isang trial by publicity, at isa pong witch hunt sa siyudad ng Taguig,” Cayetano said.

(Yes, I am categorically stating that Senator Panfilo Lacson is carrying out a demolition job, a trial by publicity, and a witch hunt against the city of Taguig.)

“Wala pong problema na ako akusahan niya, public official po ako. Pero po i-link niya sa Taguig at sa akin lahat ng projects, lahat na po ng titulo doon. It's not only po unfair, but simple lang eh, if he cannot convince people, he will try to confuse people,” he added.

(I have no problem with him accusing me, I am a public official. But for him to link every project and every land title in Taguig to me, it’s not only unfair, but it’s simple: if he cannot convince people, he will try to confuse them.)

In response, Lacson alleged that Cayetano is seemingly “quaking in his shoes” every time there is evidence of corruption presented.

"Sen. Cayetano can accuse me all he wants of 'politically motivated' witch-hunt, fake news and trial by publicity, but I’m sure, he quakes in his shoes each time he sees every piece of evidence that I present each time he resorts to his trademark 'quack-quack' on Facebook Live," Lacson said.

"PATHETIC. Imagine someone ‘quacking’ on FB Live with accusations of politically motivated demolition job, fake news and trial by publicity and at the same time ‘quaking in his boots’ every time each piece of evidence of corruption in his turf unfolds before his eyes," he added.

Lacson said that he and his staff have already submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman pieces of evidence they have gathered so far on the illegal reclamation and infrastructure projects in Taguig City.

He earlier claimed that the cost of identified completed, ongoing, and suspended flood control and multi-purpose projects along the alleged illegal Laguna Lakeshore reclamation areas in Taguig City has reached P3.713 billion so far.

Cayetano, meanwhile, maintained that he has no hatred toward Lacson, and will just answer the allegations “one by one, in the proper venue.”

“Tayo naman baliktad (in our case, it's the other way around). We will hate the sin but love the sinner,” the minority leader said.

Cayetano, whose wife Lani is the incumbent mayor of Taguig City, has defended the Lakeshore project, saying it had not been neglected or wasted. — RSJ, GMA News