Lacson says he identified bagman in Taguig ghost projects

Senator Ping Lacson said Monday he has identified the alleged bagman linked to Senator Alan Peter Cayetano in Taguig ghost flood-control projects [1, 2].

The development escalates a political feud regarding the misuse of public funds for infrastructure that was reportedly never constructed. If verified, the identification of a middleman could provide a direct evidentiary link between the alleged misappropriation of funds and high-ranking government officials.

Lacson's claims center on projects in Taguig, Metro Manila, which he describes as ghost projects [1, 2]. The senator said these initiatives existed on paper to secure funding but were not physically implemented. This pattern of alleged fraud involves the diversion of money intended to mitigate flooding in the urban center.

According to Lacson, the identified individual acted as a bagman, a term used in the Philippines to describe a person who facilitates the illicit transfer of money between parties [1, 2]. The senator said this person served as the bridge between the funding sources and the office of Senator Cayetano.

The conflict between the two senators has intensified as Lacson continues to seek accountability for the missing infrastructure. The allegations suggest a systemic failure in the oversight of flood-control budgets, where funds are released for work that is never completed.

Senator Cayetano has not yet provided a public response to the specific claim regarding the bagman. The dispute remains a point of significant political tension as both figures navigate the legal and reputational risks associated with the allegations [1, 2].