We are in a strange season. The air is thick with allegations of every sort. In many cases, the allegations run much farther than available evidence could support.
A very public and very bitter spat erupted between Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano and Sen. Panfilo Lacson. In the course of this spat, the City of Taguig was casually smeared despite the local government’s efforts to keep the record straight.
Taguig is perceived as the political stronghold of the Cayetano siblings, even as it may not have enough voters to influence national electoral outcomes. It is as if smearing Taguig becomes the gateway to smearing the Cayetanos.
For weeks, Lacson was trying to characterize Taguig as a hub of public works anomalies and holding Alan Ceyetano as responsible for this. That effort suffered a setback last week when the public works secretary declared that no ghost project has been found in that city. An upset Lacson then tried to press the DPWH to investigate harder and uncover some fault.
Unable to uncover ghost projects, Lacson focused his running exposé on aerial photos of Taguig’s coastline. The photos do suggest that some reclamation might indeed be happening. Lacson described the activity as being conducted with “impunity” and that “somebody feels he is above the law.” The insinuation is clear.
The city government of Taguig promptly responded with a factual statement. The property featured in Lacson’s video is not owned or used by the city. That parcel of land is claimed by private individuals and by a neighborhood association. No permit or whatever authority was granted by the city government for any reclamation.
The senator might not want to easily admit to the city government’s statement. But he needs to do a more careful investigation into the matter before making allegations against a colleague.
For all the innuendos thrown up here, Lacson should at the very least find answers to some basic questions. Who exactly owns the land? Who ordered the lakeshore to be filled? Who financed this project? Who delivered the materials? What permits were issued for this? Which official, if any, might have intervened to clear the way?
Unless those questions are answered, there will be much ado about nothing. People may end up convicted in the court of public opinion but not in a proper forum. Some responsibility should attach to those who habitually throw allegations.
The City of Taguig ended its statement with a stinging rebuke: “The fight against corruption must always be a fight for truth – not a contest of accusations.” This must be the standard by which every anti-corruption crusade should be appraised.
Otherwise, the very air we breathe will be filled with baseless allegations.
Travail
This story has been featured in this space. But it is proving to be an unending story.
It was nearly a decade ago when Enrique Manas Jr. was murdered in Samar. The investigation went on like forever. Until then justice secretary Boying Remulla directed the case to be finally filed in court, satisfied the evidence was adequate. Then it took more time before the DOJ actually filed the case.
Earlier this year, a criminal case arising from the Manas murder was finally filed at the Tacloban Regional Trial Court. But the relief of relatives of the victim was abbreviated. Immediately, one of the accused – former military colonel Emilio Zosa – filed a Motion for Reconsideration before the DOJ. The trial is stopped in its tracks.
Everything about this case is now back in suspended animation. No one knows how long it will take the DOJ to decide on this motion. It could require another decade. On the part of the grieving Manas family, whatever further delay will feel like eternity.
Samar Rep. Stephen James Tan had written the acting justice secretary, posing some basic questions. What is the status of the Motion for Reconsideration? Has it been submitted for resolution? Are there still procedural requirements that must be completed? Was the counsel for the Manas family furnished a copy and given the opportunity to present its position?
Nearly two months after that letter was sent to the justice secretary, there has been no response. The victim’s family has no way to plot a timeline for the progress of this case.
Consider what had happened. Manas was murdered in 2017. The DOJ studied the evidence and recommended prosecution in 2019. That was reversed by the same agency in 2021. The family appealed. The case went through yet another review. In January 2025, then secretary Remulla upheld the prosecution. The case reached a proper court in 2026.
The murder was throughly investigated by law enforcement. One might expect that the mass of evidence gathered would be more than enough to bring this to trial. What the case went through instead were layers of bureaucratic review that went on for years.
With the latest Motion for Reconsideration, the case could be frozen for longer. This should not be the normal course. Normally the accused is thrown in jail while trial progresses. There is something or someone in this case that has made it more tedious than usual.
Bad things happen when cases stretch out like this. Witnesses begin to forget. The accused die of old age without suffering any penalty. The documents pertaining to the case simply gather dust in some agency’s archive.