Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson and Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon. Photos by Voltaire F. Domingo, Senate Social Media Unit and Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News
MANILA — Malacañang on Wednesday defended Senator Panfilo Lacson after Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano seemingly accused him of dictating agencies how the flood control inquiries should proceed.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Lacson quoted Cayetano calling him “Chief Justice Lacson, Prosecutor Lacson, DOJ Lacson, persecutor Lacson”.
He responded with “if this were coming from someone credible, I’d take it as a compliment”.
“Sa katauhan ni Senator Lacson, hindi po iyan nagpapadikta at hindi rin naman po gagawin ng administrasyon na magdikta,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing.
“Ang puwede niya lamang pong utusan ay si [Public Works] Secretary Vince Dizon, at si Secretary Vince Dizon naman ay napaliwanag niya kung nagkaroon man ng misunderstanding or misconception sa kaniyang sinabi na walang ghost projects sa Taguig City, ito naman ay kaniyang pinaliwanag,” she added.
Dizon earlier denied insinuations that he was covering up alleged irregularities in infrastructure projects in Taguig City, saying the investigation is still ongoing.
This comes after Lacson warned that any attempt to cover up anomalies in Taguig infrastructure projects could expose those involved to criminal liability.
Cayetano, in response, took a swipe at Dizon after he walked back his past statement that there are no "ghost projects" in Taguig following criticism from Lacson.
Cayetano fires back at Dizon, Lacson over Taguig 'ghost projects'
“So may masabi man o walang masabi si Secretary Vince Dizon patungkol dito, ebidensya pa rin naman ang sisigaw kung talagang mayroong anomalya sa Taguig City. So, hindi dapat sisihin si Secretary Vince Dizon sa kaniyang mga tinuran, ebidensiya pa rin po ang dapat na manaig sa mga ganitong klaseng mga sitwasyon,” Castro noted.
The Palace official further encouraged the public to emulate Lacson if they also have the capacity to investigate flood control anomalies instead of making baseless accusations before the media.
“Hindi po tayo spokesperson ni Senator Lacson at alam naman natin na kaya niyang ipagtanggol ang sarili niya sa mga ganitong klaseng akusasyon. At kung siya man ay nag-iimbestiga sa sarili niya ay ini-encourage natin lahat, lahat na ng mga Pilipino na kung mayroon kayong kapasidad na mag-imbestiga para managot ang dapat na managot, maaari pa nga nating tularan na isang Senator Lacson at hindi iyong puro pa-media lang tapos walang ebidensya,” Castro stated.
Palace says allegations of anomalous projects in Taguig must be investigated
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