Lacson touts fight vs. corruption after Cayetanos decry 'threats' to minority

Senator Panfilo Lacson on Tuesday highlighted the impact of his anti-corruption efforts following the recent claims of sibling Senators Alan Peter and Pia Cayetano that members of the minority bloc were receiving threats.

"If my fight against corruption intimidates the corrupt, I must be doing something right and good for the country," Lacson said Tuesday in a post on X.

Lacson's press statement on the matter mentions Alan Peter Cayetano, whom he has linked to alleged anomalous infrastructure projects in Taguig City.

During the impeachment trial on Monday, Pia Cayetano asked former Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang if she had encountered situations wherein judges received threats in public because of their profession.

In response, Tang said there were none in relation to pending cases before the Sandiganbayan.

Pia replied: "I'm happy for you, kasi kami ho mayroon (I'm happy for you, because we have received)."

In an ambush interview, Alan Peter said it is "obvious" that threats were allegedly being made against opposition senators, mentioning Lacson in particular.

"Obvious naman, 'di ba, guys? I mean, obvious naman. You can see it with your eyes. When Senator Ping, as an example, says, dapat matapos 'yung impeachment by December, then by December may kaso daw ako. The changing of the numbers. Sino ba kinakasuhan? 'Yung nasa oposisyon," the minority leader said.

(It's obvious, isn't it, guys? I mean, it's obvious. You can see it with your own eyes. When Senator Ping, for example, said the impeachment should be finished by December. They're saying that by December, I'll be facing charges. Then there's the changing of the numbers. Who are being charged now? Those in the opposition.)

Asked who is behind the threats, he said, “Alangan naman ang opposition mag-threaten sa kapwa opposition.”

(It wouldn't make sense if those in the opposition are the ones threatening fellow members of the opposition.)

"Let's open our eyes. If we want to see the truth, all we have to do is open our eyes," Alan Peter added.

Timeline of VP Sara's trial

Meanwhile in another social media post, Lacson denied making pronouncements that the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte should be finished by December.

"A classic case of putting words into my mouth. I never said, 'Dapat matapos ang impeachment by December (The impeachment should be finished by December)'," Lacson said.

"I do not have the power or influence to dictate the timeline," he added.

Lacson and his staff have formally submitted at least 45 case studies to the Office of the Ombudsman detailing "systemic anomalies" in government flood control infrastructure projects.

Among the evidence Lacson submitted are alleged anomalies involving flood control projects in Taguig City, the political bailiwick of the Cayetanos.

The Office of the Ombudsman is currently conducting a fact-finding investigation into these allegations. — with a report from Giselle Ombay/ VDV, GMA News