To the Daily Tribune: This is to set the record straight regarding Gigie Arcilla’s October 10, 2026 column in The Daily Tribune, in which she cast aspersions on Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson’s efforts to get to the bottom of anomalous infrastructure projects, including those in Taguig City.
Letter to the Editor on Gigie Arcilla’s Oct. 10, 2026 Column
October 10, 2026
Dear Editor,
This is to set the record straight regarding Gigie Arcilla’s October 10, 2026 column in The Daily Tribune, in which she cast aspersions on Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson’s efforts to get to the bottom of anomalous infrastructure projects, including those in Taguig City.
First, we find it difficult to reconcile Ms. Arcilla’s branding of Sen. Lacson’s findings so far as “kuryente” given that he and his team submitted to the Ombudsman 45 case studies backed by official documents detailing “systemic anomalies” in flood control infrastructure projects in Taguig. These have merited a fact-finding investigation by the Office of the Ombudsman.
Second, Ms. Arcilla cited unnamed lawyers who reportedly questioned Sen. Lacson’s alleged violation of the Ombudsman’s confidentiality rules over his public statements, including a 25-second video he posted on X. However, the video was an inspection record shared with Sen. Lacson in the interest of public accountability. The mere fact that an inspection involved the Ombudsman does not, by itself, establish that the footage was confidential or that its publication violated any rule. Any such allegation must be assessed in light of the circumstances surrounding the video’s release and the applicable rules.
Relatedly, Ms. Arcilla’s characterization of the inspection video as “edited” raises a question of its own, given that the footage was raw. It would also be helpful to know more about the legal arguments she cited, including their specific basis and the circumstances under which they were advanced. Notably, substantially the same allegations, attributed to unnamed lawyers and presented without sufficient details to assess their basis, had appeared in another newspaper days earlier. Identifying the lawyers and clarifying the grounds for their claims would allow readers to better assess the allegations rather than rely on assertions presented without sufficient context.
As for Ms. Arcilla’s argument that “a bad geotag proves a bad geotag” and “doesn’t prove the project doesn’t exist or that a politician stole money from its appropriation,” a questionable geotag by itself may not establish that a project is nonexistent or that public funds were stolen. But neither should it be dismissed as inconsequential. A discrepancy in project documentation and geotagged billing photographs is a legitimate lead that warrants further investigation, particularly when public funds are involved.
Sen. Lacson’s extensive experience in law enforcement and public service has earned him a reputation for following the evidence, solving crimes, and exposing wrongdoing. He continues to apply that same evidence-based approach in pursuing accountability for the anomalies uncovered in public infrastructure projects.
As a public servant, Sen. Lacson shares with the Ombudsman and other concerned agencies the responsibility to uphold accountability and public trust, regardless of whose interests may be affected. In that regard, The Daily Tribune’s own slogan, “Without Fear, Without Favor,” remains a fitting standard for the scrutiny of allegations and the pursuit of the truth.
We hope this sets the record straight. Thank you.
Joel Locsin
Media Relations Officer
Office of Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson
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