Lacson hits DPWH chief’s remark on Taguig projects

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Sunday dared Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon to explain how an infrastructure project in Taguig City, which supposedly contained coordinates pointing outside verified project limits, should not be flagged as a “ghost” project.

This followed Dizon’s earlier statement that there are “no ghost projects” in Taguig City.

READ: No ghost projects in Taguig – Dizon

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In a social media post, Lacson cited a supposed finding of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regarding “geotagged photographs attached to billing reports contained coordinates pointing outside verified project limits.”

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For instance, the senator said, “Metadata of Contract ID 220B0106 reflected coordinates located approximately 600 kilometers away in LEYTE PROVINCE.”

“Sec. Vince Dizon, please explain how this finding of your own team should not be flagged as a ghost project in Taguig,” Lacson said, emphasizing, “Since when has Taguig been located in Leyte?”

Lacson also pointed out that the project was allegedly contracted by St. Timothy Construction Corp., owned by contractor couple Curlee and Sarah Discaya, who are currently facing charges in connection with alleged irregularities surrounding flood-control projects in Bulacan and Davao Occidental, respectively.

READ: Curlee Discaya moved to Bulacan jail over graft case

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“What do you say about this, Sec?” Lacson told the DPWH chief.

The Inquirer reached out to Dizon regarding the senator’s post, but he has yet to respond as of posting time.

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During the Senate finance subcommittee’s hearing on the DPWH budget on Friday, Dizon was asked by Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano if there are any “ghost” projects in his bailiwick, Taguig City.

“Are there any ghost projects in Taguig?” Cayetano asked, to which Dizon responded, “In our investigation, none.”

The DPWH said it has recorded 107 projects in Taguig, all of which have “accomplishments.”

After the hearing, Lacson said in a separate social media post on Saturday that Dizon’s “pressure” of his work as DPWH chief “may have clouded his memory.”

“The DPWH already turned over to my Senate office records of non-existent but reported as completed slope protection projects in Taguig. Like toothpaste squeezed from the tube, there’s no putting it back in,” the senator said.

Lacson and Cayetano have tussled over alleged flood control irregularities in Taguig City over the past weeks.

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Lacson recently released records of supposed “ghost” projects and “misused” public funds in reclamation areas in the city, but Cayetano has repeatedly denied it. /gsg