Senator Alan Cayetano backs lawful Taguig probes

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano said he supports investigations of alleged ghost and irregular projects in Taguig, but stressed that efforts to uncover corruption must remain within the bounds of the law.

Cayetano made the remarks on an October 2 livestream amid his dispute with Senator Panfilo Lacson over alleged ghost projects and illegal reclamation activities in his home city.

“We submit completely to all those Constitutional principles, departments, bodies – whether it's the Ombudsman, DOJ (Department of Justice), NBI (National Bureau of Investigation), at kung ano man na investigative body. Dapat masunod iyan… Imbestigahan niyo kasi karapatan niyo iyan. That's why I say I respect all the ongoing investigation,” he said.

“We believe in the law. Abogado ako. I took an oath to uphold the Constitution and to follow the law. But the investigation has to be fair,” he added.

Cayetano said he recognizes the authority of government agencies to investigate alleged wrongdoing but questioned the methods used by Lacson in conducting his own inquiries into projects in Taguig.

Cayetano also accused Lacson’s team of pressuring contractors to sign affidavits that had already been prepared, saying such actions amounted to coercion rather than legitimate fact-finding.

“Kapag sinubo mo ang isang affidavit sa isang tao, (at sinabing) ‘pirmahan mo iyan, kung hindi, kakasuhan kita,’ that's asking him to give false testimony,” he said.

“My point is, in everything we do, the process is important. Hindi pwedeng ‘the end justifies the means,’” he added.

Cayetano called for investigations into Taguig and other flood control projects to be conducted through a fair, evidence-based process and cautioned against investigative overreach.

“It has to be done with the right methodology. It has to be done na factual,” he said.

He said Lacson's actions continue because “he feels that he is above the law at this point in time, but wala namang forever diyan.”

Cayetano also urged Filipinos to speak up against what he described as selective investigations, saying these could further compound the country's existing problems.

“Let me talk to all Filipinos regardless of our religion. Iisa bansa natin… Ang dami-dami na nating problema, bakit pa natin pinapadami at pinalalaki pa ang sarili natin mga problema?” he said.

“Siguro dapat bilang mga Pilipino, matuto din tayo magsabi when enough is enough,” he added.