MANILA, Philippines — Senator Panfilo Lacson claimed that at least ₱3.713 billion in public funds may have been wasted on infrastructure projects built along allegedly illegal reclamation areas on the Taguig side of Laguna de Bay.

Citing official records and his team’s investigation, Lacson said the amount covers completed, ongoing and suspended flood-control and multipurpose projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways.

The senator said the figure does not include other allegedly anomalous slope-protection and flood-mitigation projects along the Taguig River.

These projects reportedly involved double appropriations and alleged “ghost” projects that used recycled photographs of supposedly completed works for billing purposes.

Lacson said his team would submit its latest findings to the Office of the Ombudsman’s fact-finding unit for appropriate action.

The senator earlier identified four parcels of allegedly illegally reclaimed land in Taguig that he said were covered by fraudulently issued titles.

The claims remain allegations pending investigation and validation by the appropriate government agencies.

As of writing, the Taguig City government has yet to issue an official response to Lacson’s latest allegations.

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