Disgraced ex-Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano is using squid tactics to hide from the issues confronting him, but that may not save him from the “logical conclusion” awaiting him, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Monday.
Lacson said he continues to gather evidence against Cayetano with the help of informants and witnesses, which he may present before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee or in a privilege speech, or transmit to the Ombudsman for the filing of appropriate charges.
“That’s how he is. When he faces an issue, he will drop names of those close to the administration, or resort to name-calling, to muddle the issue. That’s called squid tactics – try to muddle the issue and hope he can get away. That’s his technique and pattern up to now,” he said in English and Filipino in an interview on True FM.
In Filipino: Disgrasyadong Ex-SP Cayetano, Gumagamit ng Squid Tactics para Magtago sa Pananagutan – Lacson
He added this pattern could also be seen in other controversies involving Cayetano, such as the anomalies in the preparations for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games which he chaired.
Lacson said Cayetano’s latest squid tactics included linking allegations of corruption against him to the ongoing impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio – after Lacson said he is looking into Cayetano’s P6.79 billion in budget insertions in the 2025 budget, along with 25% kickbacks in slope protection and other infrastructure projects.
Also, Lacson noted that out of Cayetano’s P6.79B budget insertions under the 2025 GAA, 68 out of the 70 projects were implemented – with two projects involving P75 million unreleased or unobligated.
“Again, squid tactics. This is not an issue of impeachment. This is an issue of corruption,” Lacson said of Cayetano’s claims.
“He asked for it, I’ll give it to him,” he added, when asked about his focus on anomalous flood control projects in Taguig City.
Lacson also dismissed Cayetano’s claim that he and Sen. Erwin Tulfo were acting on orders of Malacanang, describing it as another attempt to divert attention from the real issue.
“He is pointing fingers and sowing intrigues so we will fight each other. I don’t want to dignify his nonsense because we will deviate from the issue,” he said.
“As for the flood control projects, I have talked to Blue Ribbon Chairman Erwin Tulfo. I will furnish him the documents and lists of possible resource persons who can be invited to hearings,” he added.
Lacson recalled that Cayetano resorted to similar attacks when he questioned the transfer of at least P1 billion in government funds to a private foundation Cayetano chaired, for the hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games – which could draw comparisons to the 2013 Napoles pork barrel scam.
He noted that Cayetano reacted immediately after National Bureau of Investigation director Melvin Matibag announced an investigation into the matter even when he did not name names yet.
“When Matibag mentioned the investigation yet did not name names, he reacted. What does that make of him?” he said.
Logical Conclusion
Lacson said Cayetano’s attack on his integrity will fuel his extra efforts to pursue the case to its logical conclusion.
He said their initial findings so far include projects involving firms owned by the Discayas in 2019, when Cayetano was House Speaker. In some of the defective projects, some had overlapping spans that would allow kickbacks. There were also attempts to “repair” some of the ghost projects.
“We will look into those to show there are ghost projects in Taguig,” he said.
Lacson said Cayetano’s brother Lino has volunteered to be one of the witnesses, having contacted him through an intermediary.
“I will pursue this to its logical conclusion. I will not ‘invent’ or ‘fabricate’ evidence but because of his attack on my integrity, I will exert extra effort to find those pieces of evidence, documentary or testimonial,” Lacson said.
“I will not accept that he would attack my integrity, which I have nurtured throughout my career for more than 50 years,” he added.
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Disgrasyadong Ex-SP Cayetano, Gumagamit ng Squid Tactics para Magtago sa Pananagutan – Lacson
Gumagamit ng squid tactics si disgrasyadong ex-Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano upang magtago sa mga isyung kinahaharap niya, ngunit hindi iyon makapagliligtas sa kanya sa “logical conclusion” na naghihintay sa kanya, ayon kay Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Lunes.
Ani Lacson, patuloy siyang nangangalap ng ebidensya laban kay Cayetano sa tulong ng mga impormante at mga testigo, na maaari niyang iharap sa Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, ilahad sa isang privilege speech, o isumite sa Office of the Ombudsman para sa pagsasampa ng kaukulang mga kaso.
“Ganyan siya. Pag napunta sa kanya ang usapin, kung di siya mag-drag down na may kasama siya na alam niyang malapit sa admin, iniikot-ikot niya ang isyu para guluhin niya. Squid tactics nga tawag diyan. Maglabas ka ng tinta para magulo ang usapan at baka sakaling matakpan. Yan ang kanyang technique at ito ang pattern na ginagawa niya hanggang ngayon,” aniya sa panayam sa True FM.
Dagdag niya, makikita rin ang ganitong padron sa iba pang mga kontrobersyang kinasangkutan ni Cayetano, kabilang ang mga umano’y iregularidad sa paghahanda para sa 2019 Southeast Asian Games na kanyang pinamunuan.
Ayon kay Lacson, kabilang sa pinakahuling squid tactics ni Cayetano ang pag-uugnay sa mga paratang ng katiwalian laban sa kanya sa nagpapatuloy na impeachment trial ni Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, matapos sabihin ni Lacson na iniimbestigahan niya ang umano’y P6.79 bilyong budget insertions ni Cayetano sa 2025 national budget, gayundin ang umano’y 25-porsiyentong kickback sa mga slope protection at iba pang infrastructure projects.
Sinabi rin ni Lacson na sa P6.79 bilyong budget insertions ni Cayetano sa ilalim ng 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA), 68 sa 70 proyekto ang naipatupad, habang dalawang proyekto na nagkakahalaga ng P75 milyon ang nananatiling hindi nailalabas o hindi pa naoobliga.
“Again, squid tactics. Walang kinalaman ang impeachment ito usapin ng corruption ito. Nilihis ang usapan dinadala sa impeachment. Ako mismo di ko pa alam boto ko,” sabi ni Lacson kaugnay ng mga pahayag ni Cayetano.
“He asked for it, I’ll give it to him,” dagdag niya nang tanungin tungkol sa kanyang pagtutok sa mga umano’y maanomalyang flood control projects sa Taguig City.
Pinasinungalingan din ni Lacson ang pahayag ni Cayetano na siya at si Sen. Erwin Tulfo ay kumikilos umano sa utos ng Malacañang, at inilarawan ito bilang isa na namang pagtatangkang ilihis ang atensyon mula sa tunay na isyu.
“Pinagtuturo niya, nag-iintriga siya para pagaway-awayin kami. Ayoko siyang patulan kasi lumalawak ang usapin napapalayo tayo sa tunay na issue,” aniya.
“Ang flood control projects, tutuluyan usap kami ni Sen. Erwin Tulfo. Siya ang chairman ngayon at ibibigay ko sa kanya documents at sinumang resource persons na pwedeng imbitahin,” dagdag niya.
Naalala rin ni Lacson na gumamit si Cayetano ng katulad na mga pag-atake nang kuwestiyunin niya ang paglilipat ng hindi bababa sa P1 bilyong pondo ng pamahalaan sa isang pribadong foundation na pinamumunuan ni Cayetano para sa pagho-host ng 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games – na maaaring maikumpara sa 2013 Napoles pork barrel scam case.
Aniya, agad na nag-react si Cayetano matapos ipahayag ni National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag na magsasagawa sila ng imbestigasyon sa usapin kahit wala pa itong binabanggit na pangalan.
“Nang nilabas ni Director Matibag, hindi niya nabanggit pangalan niya, tapos nag-react. Ano yan?” aniya.
Logical Conclusion
Sinabi ni Lacson na ang pag-atake ni Cayetano sa kanyang integridad ang lalo pang nagtulak sa kanya na pagsikapang dalhin ang kaso sa “logical conclusion.”
Aniya, kabilang sa kanilang mga paunang natuklasan ang mga proyektong kinasasangkutan ng mga kumpanyang pag-aari ng mga Discaya noong 2019, nang House Speaker pa si Cayetano. Sa ilan sa mga depektibong proyekto, may magkakapatong na spans na maaaring nagbigay-daan sa kickbacks. Mayroon ding mga tangkang “ayusin” ang ilan sa mga ghost projects.
“Yan kakalkalin namin para maipakitang may ghost project din sa Taguig,” aniya.
Sinabi rin ni Lacson na nagboluntaryo ang kapatid ni Cayetano na si Lino na maging isa sa mga testigo matapos siyang makipag-ugnayan sa pamamagitan ng isang intermediary.
“Sa logical conclusion dapat. Hindi ko alam saan hahantong kung ano maabot ng evidence kasi hindi tayo para mag (imbento) ng evidence. Pero dahil sa ginawa niyang pag-attack sa integrity ko, I will exert extra effort to find those pieces of evidence, documentary man or testimonial,” ani Lacson.
“Hindi ko matanggap ang pinagingat-ingatan mo sa career mo for more than 50 years tapos sisirain ng isang tao,” dagdag niya.
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