Kickbacks from DPWH projects in Taguig up to 33% — Lacson

Senator Panfilo Lacson on Saturday alleged that kickbacks in Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) infrastructure projects in Taguig reached as much as 33% per project, claiming the scheme forced contractors to deliver substandard or even "ghost" projects.

According to Ian Cruz's report on "24 Oras Weekend," Lacson said his camp has documented evidence, including a supposed money trail, that they have started submitting to the Office of the Ombudsman.

"Everything is documented. These are not rumors or hearsay. We have the contract IDs—they're complete. We also have the progress billing documents with the corresponding dates. Everything is complete," Lacson said in Filipino.

According to Lacson, information provided by whistleblowers enabled his team to trace the alleged flow of commissions from DPWH projects in Taguig.

He claimed the alleged kickback scheme reached up to 33% of every project cost, leaving contractors with little choice but to cut corners or deliver ghost projects.

Lacson also alleged that Senator Alan Peter Cayetano exercises control over the DPWH district engineer in Taguig, claiming district engineers who refuse to comply with instructions are replaced or intimidated.

"That really happens. That's why the district engineer ends up acting like a mere puppet," he said.

Lacson's office also released photographs that it said support allegations of ghost infrastructure projects in Taguig.

Cayetano on Saturday meanwhile invited Lacson to visit Taguig City and see for himself the projects in the city amid the investigation into the alleged anomalous flood control and other infrastructure projects in their bailiwick.

He said that it's better to see what Taguig City looks like in person rather than what the paper or picture shows.

Moreover, Cayetano said that he is ready to answer all the allegations thrown at him.

"Let me assure you na lahat ng allegations na binabato sa amin ay masasagot. Let me assure you na maayos dito sa Taguig. As I keep saying, to the best of my knowledge, walang ghost project dito," he said.

(Let me assure you that every allegation thrown at us will be answered. Let me assure you that everything is in order here in Taguig. As I keep saying, to the best of my knowledge, there are no ghost projects here.)

In an earlier statement, Cayetano had maintained that there were no ghost projects in Taguig.

Case studies

Among the "case studies" that Lacson cited were four separate slope protection projects awarded to four different contractors.

Lacson alleged that although all four projects were reported as completed and fully paid, they allegedly used the same geotagged photographs as proof of completion.

His office also presented what it said were progress billing reports from two contractors containing identical photographs despite having different submission dates—one dated March 31, 2025 and the other June 16, 2025.

Lacson said his team is still determining the total amount involved as it continues to gather evidence.

He also claimed that Cayetano secured P6.795 billion in infrastructure project insertions in the 2025 General Appropriations Act.

The allegations are the latest exchange between the two senators after Lacson earlier accused Cayetano's bailiwick of having anomalous flood control and other infrastructure projects.

Lacson also denied that he agreed to any truce with Cayetano, saying the latter supposedly sought a "ceasefire" through several senators.

"He approached at least five of my colleagues in the majority one by one, asking them if we could stop for the time being," Lacson said.

Cayetano, however, had denied seeking a ceasefire and rejected comparisons between Taguig's infrastructure projects and the alleged ghost and substandard projects in Bulacan.

"I really don't mind the investigation, as long as it's fair," Cayetano said in a Facebook live statement. — MCG/KG, GMA News