Senator Panfilo Lacson has called for a genuine inter-agency investigation into claims linking Cabinet officials to multibillion-peso budget insertions in Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) projects, warning that dismissing the allegations too early could be seen as a “cover-up.”
Lacson said Malacañang should not brand the claims as mere “hearsay,” noting that evidence has already surfaced during Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearings, which he chairs.
He stressed that testimonies, backed by official budget documents, point to possible involvement in the plunder of public funds.
The senator was reacting to Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro’s statement dismissing the allegations as having “no probative value” unless authenticated by the DPWH.
Lacson also cited the possible tracing of fund movements through a “web of accounts” being looked into by the Anti-Money Laundering Council.
He warned that ignoring the issue could fuel public anger over corruption tied to failed and ghost infrastructure projects, saying public distrust in government is understandable if accountability is not pursued.IMT
