Lacson: Pia Cayetano had P4.7B budget insertion in 2025; Alan had P6.7B

Senator Pia Cayetano allegedly had a P4.7-billion budget insertion in 2025, while her brother, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, had P6.7 billion, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said Sunday.

“Sa insertion [ng General Appropriations Act nung 2025] meron, I think nasa P4.7 billion. Hindi pa namin na-check kung ilan sa P4.7 billion ang na-implement,” Lacson told Super Radyo dzBB.

(For insertion, there is. I think it's around P4.7 billion. We have not yet checked how much from the P4.7 billion has been implemented.)

“Kay Alan, out of the P6.7 billion, parang mga nasa P75 million lang ang hindi na-implement. Lahat ng implemented … karamihan diyan sa Taguig,” he added.

(For Alan, out of the p6.7 billion, it might be only around P75 million that has not been implemented. Thes rest has been implemented... mostly in Taguig.)

However, Lacson said further investigation is needed to know whether or not Pia is involved in anomalous flood control projects.

“Hindi ko alam kung lahat [ng P4.7 billion budget insertion ay para sa] Taguig. At wala naman talagang nagpapakita na may mga proyekto si Senator Pia na para sa flood control na may anomalya. Walang showing na ganun kasi hindi pa namin naddedetalye yun,” Lacson said.

(I don’t know if the entire P4.7 billion budget insertion was for Taguig. And there’s really nothing showing that Senator Pia is involved in anomalous flood control projects. Nothing indicates that because we haven’t detailed that yet.)

GMA News Online has reached out to Pia Cayetano for comment on the issue.

Lacson made the statement as he revealed the alleged illegal reclamation projects on the Taguig side of Laguna Lake that were linked to Alan that were presented as a slope protection and mitigation project.

“Slope protection and mitigation so flood control 'yan. Pero lumalabas hindi talaga flood control kung hindi reclamation. Kasi ano 'yung i-slope protection mo kung wala namang slope, kasi tubig naman 'yung paglalagyan mo. Tatakpan 'yun ng mga lupa sa pamamagitan ng mga filling materials,” Lacson said.

(It is presented as a slope protection and mitigation project so it is considered a flood control project. But it appears that it’s a reclamation project. What slope are you referring to if there's no slope to begin with? The area is water, which will be filled in with soil and other filling materials.)

Earlier this week, Lacson called for an end to what he described as the impunity surrounding alleged illegal reclamation projects on the Taguig side of Laguna Lake.

"The Cayetanos have disguised these unabated and illegal reclamation operations in the Taguig side of Laguna Lake as flood control and mitigation projects for several years now, using their power and influence to harass officials of the PRA, LLDA and other agencies tasked to protect the lake," Lacson said in a statement on Friday.

In his latest count, Lacson said the number of allegedly anomalous flood management projects in the city has reached 32.

Citing the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA), Lacson told dzBB that the reclamation projects in question have no permits.

PRA estimated that 47 hectares had already been reclaimed, with another 37 hectares added, although they could no longer fully track the developments since they were barred from conducting further investigation.

“Kinofirm ng PRA na, wala talagang maski isang permit kasi nung nangyari daw nong budget hearing plenary deliberation ng budget ng Office of the President, pinatawag sila sa opisina ni Sen. Alan , at hini-hostage ‘yung budget ng Office of the President, pag sususpend, eh gabi na ‘yun so parang na pressure sila hindi na sila kumibo kaya naantala ‘yung investigation,”Lacson said.

(The PRA confirmed that there were no permits at all, but said its investigation was delayed after officials were summoned to Sen. Alan Cayetano’s office during the Office of the President’s budget deliberations, where their budget was allegedly threatened with suspension, putting them under pressure to remain silent.)

“Ifo-forfeit ito in favor ng national govenrment. Kasi may mga portion doon na patitulohan na. Tama 'yung sinabi ni Sen. Alan na government property 'yung ibang portion doon. Pero pwede mo gawin 'yun kung nag-apply ng permit 'yung LGU para mag-reclaim,” he added.

(The reclaimed areas will be forfeited in favor of the national government, although some portions have already been titled. Sen. Alan is correct that some areas are government property, but the LGU could only reclaim them if it had applied for the necessary permit.)

GMA News Online has reached out to Alan Cayetano for comment on the matter.

Lacson also said he will leave it to Sen. Erwin Tulfo to decide whether the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee should continue its investigation into anomalous flood control projects. —RF, GMA News