Taguig city: Senator Panfilo Lacson announced Friday that the investigation into alleged ghost infrastructure projects in Taguig City has gained momentum with the identification of more alleged bagmen and the discovery of additional questionable projects, as the evidence against former Senate president Alan Peter Cayetano continues to build.

According to Philippines News Agency, the probe has uncovered more potential witnesses and evidence that suggest the alleged anomalies may involve several individuals, not just one. Lacson shared on X and during a radio interview that the investigation has revealed a significant amount of damning evidence, leading to a more complex and strengthened case. He quipped about the growing list of evidence, likening it to a "shoot into a cooking pot," suggesting the magnitude of the findings.

Investigators have identified additional slope protection projects, each worth PHP100 million, raising the total value of the questioned projects to PHP3.38 billion. Lacson pointed out that two of these projects shared the same location and description, raising suspicions about the legitimacy of one potentially being a ghost project. Moreover, the investigation has also brought to light allegedly defective projects with overlapping scopes that may have facilitated kickbacks.

Lacson is contemplating submitting the evidence directly to the Office of the Ombudsman, bypassing a Senate inquiry to expedite the investigation if the evidence is deemed sufficient. He emphasized that while the current focus is on Taguig projects due to Cayetano's criticisms, the investigation is not confined to the city. It is part of a larger review of questionable infrastructure projects across various parts of the country.