Metro Manila, Philippines – In a post on X, Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson paged the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) on claims that “illegal reclamation activities” are underway at the Taguig side of Laguna de Bay.
“If this isn’t a total display of impunity and disrespect for the law, I don’t know what is,” Lacson said in the caption of his post.
A video of a joint site inspection done by the ombudsman, Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA), Land Registration Authority (LRA), and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) was also attached.
The 25-second footage showed officials overlooking the Taguig lakeshore and standing on what appeared as fill materials and garbage, with an unseen person heard asking if the LLDA has no authorities guarding the area.
In response, the Taguig City government issued a statement denying Lacson’s claims, tagging his narrative as “misleading” and the recording as “curated.”
“The video shown involves a parcel of land claimed by several private individuals and a neighborhood association,” they said.
“The City of Taguig did not issue any permit or authority in favor of any of the alleged private owners,” they added.
The local government unit also encouraged the public to exercise caution amid the allegations and stated that it will continue its anti-corruption efforts with “fairness, integrity, and respect for truth.”
Lacson has since reacted in a separate post on X, stating, “Curated my foot! How can a raw video taken on site and sent to my office by the inspection team in Lakeshore area of the Taguig side of Laguna Lake be misleading?”
This dispute comes almost a month after the DPWH issued a cease-and-desist order against illegal reclamation projects in the area, that was then violated by the involved contractor two weeks later, leading to a show-cause order.
Lacson’s probe into the alleged illegal reclamation activities in Taguig has caused friction between him and fellow Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, who maintains his political stronghold on the city.
