The Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) has started the process that could lead to the forfeiture in favor of the national government of several hectares of illegally reclaimed land on the Taguig side of Laguna Lake, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Sunday.
Lacson said the PRA has confirmed his and his team’s initial findings that the Taguig City government had not secured a single permit required to undertake the reclamation.
“They are moving toward an investigation that would lead to a PRA board resolution to start the process toward forfeiture proceedings. If reclamation is undertaken without a permit from the PRA, which is the agency mandated to regulate reclamation and issue the necessary permits, the logical conclusion is that the land should be forfeited in favor of the national government. And the PRA confirmed that there was not a single permit,” he said in English and Filipino in an interview on DZBB radio.
“The reclaimed land may be benefiting residents, as former Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano claims, but the proper procedures and laws still have to be followed, including securing the necessary permits. The PRA said the city government did not secure a single permit,” he added.
In Filipino: Lacson: PRA, Sinimulan na ang Proseso para I-Forfeit sa Pambansang Gobyerno ang Ilegal na Ni-Reclaim na Lupa sa Taguig
Earlier, Lacson noted the Cayetanos had disguised the “unabated and illegal” reclamation operations in the Taguig side of Laguna Lake as flood control and mitigation projects for several years now.
Even assuming that what Cayetano claimed as the reclaimed areas in Laguna Lake were “government property,” Lacson said the Taguig City government still needed permits and documents from the PRA, Laguna Lake Development Authority and Department of Environment and Natural Resources before undertaking reclamation work.
“The local government still cannot do reclamation work without the needed reclamation permits,” he said.
Lacson noted Sen. Francis Escudero narrated how, when he was governor of Sorsogon, he secured the needed permits from related agencies including the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), before undertaking reclamation there.
“Some portions of the lands where multipurpose buildings and parks are being built could be owned by the LGU. But even the LGU cannot reclaim land without the needed permits, or the land will be forfeited in favor of the national government,” he added.
Lacson also said the PRA’s earlier investigation into the reclamation was stalled after ex-Senate President Cayetano pressured the agency’s representatives during the November 2025 deliberations on the Office of the President’s budget. The PRA is under the OP.
He cited information from PRA officials that Cayetano called them to his office and threatened to suspend deliberations on the OP’s budget, effectively holding it hostage.
“Cayetano threatened to have the deliberations on the OP’s budget suspended, so they were pressured and the investigation was stalled,” he said.
“The investigation was stalled but now the PRA is very enthusiastic. I am not sure if the PRA will generate revenue once the land is forfeited in favor of the national government,” he added.
Lacson said further verification is needed on how much reclaimed land may be forfeited for the national government. He said the last count “several years ago” showed there were 47 hectares that were reclaimed, but another 37 hectares had been added recently.
He said the PRA attempted to check the extent of the reclamation but encountered difficulty because its personnel were being monitored. He recalled how one PRA official brought his children to a street-food event in the Taguig area and used the occasion to fly a drone, allowing the PRA to get a clearer view of the extent of the reclamation.
For now, Lacson said he and his team had gathered evidence on at least 32 anomalous flood control projects in the area, after coordinating with the PRA and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Lacson said that after he and his team have turned over to the Ombudsman the evidence on at least five case studies of anomalous flood control projects in Taguig – along with the affidavits of at least two witnesses who cooperated in the investigation – ex-Senate President Cayetano should now prepare to explain his side to the Ombudsman.
“We are talking about how many ghost projects were funded by taxpayers’ money as shown by the evidence,” he said.
He also said at least four contractors who stopped cooperating in the investigation could also face possible plunder charges.
Blue Ribbon probe
Lacson said it is now up to Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Erwin Tulfo to decide if the committee should include the Taguig City flood control projects in its hearings.
“It’s his call as chairman. My concern is that people are angry especially now because they have experienced flooding again. They are asking where the hundreds of billions or trillions of pesos in taxpayers’ money for flood control projects went,” he said.
But he also pointed out that some of the witnesses he and his team have talked to voiced fears of being harassed if they would be summoned to a public hearing.
“The witnesses asked if they could be referred to the Ombudsman instead of being called to a public hearing. I agree with them, because they might be exposed prematurely if they are called to the public hearings,” he said.
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Lacson: PRA, Sinimulan na ang Proseso para I-Forfeit sa Pambansang Gobyerno ang Ilegal na Ni-Reclaim na Lupa sa Taguig
Sinimulan na ng Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) ang proseso na maaaring humantong sa pag-forfeit pabor sa pambansang gobyerno ng ilang ektaryang ilegal na ni-reclaim na lupa sa bahagi ng Laguna Lake na sakop ng Taguig, ayon kay Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Linggo.
Ani Lacson, kinumpirma ng PRA ang mga paunang natuklasan niya at ng kanyang team na walang kahit isang kinakailangang permit na nakuha ang pamahalaang lungsod ng Taguig para isagawa ang reclamation.
“Patungo na sila sa pagimbestiga para magkaroon ng… board resolution ng PRA para magsimula ng proseso patungo sa forfeiture proceedings. Kasi pag ganyang reclamation at wala kang permiso sa PRA dahil sila ang agency mandated para mag-regulate o magbigay ng permit dito, ang logical conclusion dapat niyan, i-forfeit mo in favor of the national government. At confirm yan ng PRA wala maski isang permit,” aniya sa panayam sa DZBB radio.
“Yan naman sa reclamation pwedeng pinakinabangan nga pero dapat sumunod siya sa proseso, sumunod siya sa batas na kumuha siya ng dapat na mga permit. Sabi ng PRA ni isang permit wala silang kinuha,” dagdag niya.
Nauna nang sinabi ni Lacson na ilang taon nang ipinapakitang flood control at mitigation projects ng mga Cayetano ang “unabated and illegal” reclamation operations sa bahagi ng Laguna Lake na sakop ng Taguig.
Kahit ipagpalagay na ang mga lugar sa Laguna Lake na sinabi ni Cayetano na ni-reclaim ay “government property,” sinabi ni Lacson na kailangan pa ring kumuha ng mga permit at dokumento ang pamahalaang lungsod ng Taguig mula sa PRA, Laguna Lake Development Authority at Department of Environment and Natural Resources bago magsagawa ng reclamation work.
“Hindi pupuwede yan. Pwede mo gawin yan pag apply ng permit ang LGU para mag-reclaim,” he said.
Binanggit ni Lacson ang salaysay ni Sen. Francis Escudero na noong gobernador pa siya ng Sorsogon, kumuha siya ng mga kinakailangang permit mula sa mga kaugnay na ahensya, kabilang ang Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), bago magsagawa ng reclamation doon.
“Ang ibang portion hindi ko alam kung gaano kalaki yan pero may portion din diyan na pag-aari kasi tinayuan ng multipurpose building at parks. Yan ang sinasabi niya na pag-aari ng LGU which pag susundan mo ang sinasabi ng PRA hindi rin pupuwede kasi kung walang permit ang patutunguhan niyan dapat pag-aari ng national government,” he added.
Sinabi rin ni Lacson na natigil ang naunang imbestigasyon ng PRA sa reclamation matapos umanong i-pressure ni dating Senate President Cayetano ang mga kinatawan ng ahensya noong deliberasyon sa budget ng Office of the President noong Nobyembre 2025. Nasa ilalim ng OP ang PRA.
Ayon kay Lacson, batay sa impormasyong ibinahagi sa kanya ng mga opisyal ng PRA, ipinatawag sila ni Cayetano sa kanyang tanggapan at nagbantang ipasuspinde ang deliberasyon sa budget ng OP, na epektibong naglagay sa ahensya sa ilalim ng pressure.
“Pasususpend, e gabi na raw yan. So parang napressure sila. Hindi na lang sila kumibo kaya naantala ang investigation,” aniya.
“Nahinto sila doon pero ngayon very enthusiastic sila kasi hindi ko alam kung maka-generate ng revenue once ma-forfeit in favor of the national government,” dagdag niya.
Sinabi ni Lacson na kailangan pa ng karagdagang beripikasyon upang matukoy kung gaano kalaking reclaimed land ang maaaring ma-forfeit pabor sa pambansang gobyerno. Aniya, sa huling bilang ilang taon na ang nakalilipas, nasa 47 ektarya ang na-reclaim, ngunit nadagdagan pa ito ng 37 ektarya kamakailan.
Sinabi niyang nagtangkang alamin ng PRA ang lawak ng reclamation ngunit nahirapan dahil mino-monitor umano ang mga tauhan nito. Isinalaysay niya na isang opisyal ng PRA ang nagsama ng kanyang mga anak sa isang street-food event sa Taguig at sinamantala ang pagkakataon upang magpalipad ng drone, na nagbigay sa PRA ng mas malinaw na tanawin sa lawak ng reclamation.
Sa ngayon, sinabi ni Lacson na nakalap na niya at ng kanyang team ang mga ebidensya kaugnay ng hindi bababa sa 32 maanomalyang flood control projects sa lugar, matapos makipag-ugnayan sa PRA at Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Ani Lacson, matapos nilang i-turn over sa Ombudsman ang mga ebidensya kaugnay ng hindi bababa sa limang case studies ng maanomalyang flood control projects sa Taguig—kasama ang mga affidavit ng hindi bababa sa dalawang testigo na nakipagtulungan sa imbestigasyon—dapat nang maghanda si dating Senate President Cayetano na ipaliwanag ang kanyang panig sa Ombudsman.
“Ang pinaguusapan dito, ilan ang ghost project na ginastusan ng pera ng gobyerno na maliwanag sa ebidensya, sa dokumento, na talagang ghost,” aniya.
Sinabi rin niyang maaaring maharap sa posibleng mga kasong plunder ang hindi bababa sa apat na contractor na tumigil sa pakikipagtulungan sa imbestigasyon.
Blue Ribbon Probe
Sinabi ni Lacson na nasa kamay na ni Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Erwin Tulfo ang pagpapasya kung isasama ng komite sa mga pagdinig nito ang mga flood control project sa Taguig City.
“Nasa kanya yan, call ng chairman. Sa akin lang, kasi natiyempo pa naman na baha kabi-kabila, sabi nyo nga nare-remind ang tao at nagngingitngit sa galit dahil tuwing babaha at binabaha ang kababayan natin ang unang pumasok sa isip nila, nasaan ang daan daang bilyon o trilyon na ginastos ng gobyerno para sa flood control projects,” aniya.
Ngunit binanggit din niya na nagpahayag ng pangamba ang ilan sa mga testigong nakausap niya at ng kanyang team na maaari silang ma-harass kung ipapatawag sa isang public hearing.
“Nakiusap mga testigo sa halip na public hearing dumiretso sa Ombudsman kung papatawag sila, ayoko rin. Kaya pumayag ako kay Sen. Tulfo na i-defer muna ang public hearing, kasi baka ma-expose prematurely ang testigo,” aniya.
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