Ping Lacson says Alan Peter Cayetano's ceasefire offer sank after public denial

Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson on Friday identified Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano as the one who allegedly asked for a ceasefire amid the former's expose on alleged anomalies in flood control projects in Taguig City.

Interviewed over Super Radyo dzBB, Lacson said Cayetano's attempt for a peace overture started Wednesday last week when he privately asked five senators from the majority bloc to relay his offer for a ceasefire.

According to Lacson, the efforts intensified on Monday, July 27, and Tuesday, July 28, when Cayetano requested one senator to ask the favor. The issue was also raised during the caucus and fellowship of the majority bloc on Wednesday, July 29.

However, Lacson said Cayetano's efforts for a ceasefire sank after publicly denying the request.

"Nasaan ang sinseridad kung nag-offer ka ng ceasefire pagkatapos sa unang pagkakataon pinagkatanggi-tanggi mo?" he said.

(Where's the sincerity if the person who offered the ceasefire denied it at the first opportunity?)

On Thursday, Lacson took to X (formerly Twitter) to reject an alleged "ceasefire" offer from an individual amid his expose into the alleged anomalies in the flood control projects in Taguig City.

He did not name who made the overture but said it was from "someone who had arbitrarily and indiscriminately opened fire without provocation." He also denounced the call as "hypocrisy aimed at buying time to recover and reconsolidate for his next sneaky move."

"Ceasefire my foot! Anong uri ng tao ang magde-declare ng giyera, toy gun ang dala, at laway ang bala; pag na-confront ng bomba, magre-request ng ceasefire, pabulong pa?" Lacson said.

(Ceasefire my foot! What kind of man declares war, armed with a toy gun, and his saliva as ammunition; then when confronted with bombs, he requests for ceasefire with a whisper?)

Asked to confirm if the individual who asked for a ceasefire is Cayetano, Lacson answered: "That is correct, absolutely."

GMA News Online has requested comment from Cayetano on the matter, but he has yet to respond as of posting time.

Feud

The feud between Lacson and Cayetano started after the latter, in a Facebook Live, questioned the increase in Lacson's declared net worth in 2025.

Lacson, a former chairperson of the powerful Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, fired back and said he would pursue the investigation into the anomalies in the flood control projects in Taguig City, the Cayetano family's political bailiwick.

"In-attack niya ang aking integridad, na-priortize ko tuloy ang Taguig pero all the time, nandu'n sa files namin 'yan," the senator said.

(He attacked my integrity so we prioritized Taguig. But the files was there all this time.)

"Marami kaming nakuhang files nu'ng nagsimula ang flood control anomalies, nag-ipon na kami. Kaya lang na-overwhelm na kami ng Bulacan, Occidental Mindoro at Pampanga kaya hindi namin masyadong naharap pero nandiyan all the time," he added.

(We obtained a lot of files when the flood control anomalies broke out, but we were overwhelmed by the cases in Bulacan, Occidental Mindoro and Pampanga. That's why we were only able to give it little attention but they've been there all the time.)

Kickback structure

According to Lacson, their investigation found that Cayetano "virtually" controls the operations and related activities of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Taguig City.

Lacson also alleged that city infrastructure projects were pre-arranged for Cayetano’s favored contractors, and that the district engineers were expected to follow the latter’s directives.

The evidence gathered by his team also showed a possible 33% kickback structure in Taguig infrastructure projects, including 18% for:

• 10% for the "principal"
• 2% for the "boys"
• 6% for the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), including 3% for BAC members, and 3% for contractors who join the bidding

Another 15% of the kickbacks went to former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, who now faces plunder and graft charges before the Sandiganbayan, Lacson added.

"Sabi niya walang flood control anomaly or ghost projects. Bahala siya, yan ang kanyang claim. Pero records and documents say otherwise,” he said.

(Cayetano claims there is no flood control anomaly or ghost project in Taguig. It's up to him. That's what he says, but records and documents say otherwise),

Ombudsman

On Tuesday, Lacson said his office turned over to the Office of the Ombudsman the documentary and testimonial evidence they have gathered in relation to the alleged anomalies, including supposed double billing and collection involving infrastructure projects in Taguig.

Lacson linked the findings to Cayetano, who refuted claims of ghost infrastructure projects in Taguig City and called for an investigation in other cities in Metro Manila. Incidentally, Cayetano's wife, Lani, is the current mayor of Taguig. — VDV, GMA News