By Benito Reyes
MANILA — Senator Panfilo Lacson defended the legitimacy of his declared assets on Sunday after Senator Alan Peter Cayetano publicly questioned the increase in his net worth, describing the accusations as baseless and politically motivated.
Lacson issued the statement through his X account, asserting that attacks on his honesty and credibility would not go unanswered.
He said his integrity has always been the foundation of his public service and accused Cayetano of going beyond fair political criticism by casting doubt on his character.
Lacson also revealed that several individuals have allegedly volunteered to provide information and evidence against Cayetano, saying these could eventually support criminal complaints that may place the senator behind bars.
The dispute stemmed from Cayetano’s Facebook livestream on Saturday, where he cited Lacson’s 2025 Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth and questioned the senator’s reported increase in personal wealth.
Addressing the issue, Lacson explained that his net worth grew from P58.7 million in 2022 to P244.9 million in 2025. He stressed that the increase was lawful and properly documented through his income tax returns covering taxable years 2023 and 2024.
Lacson likewise contrasted his record with Cayetano’s, alleging that he never accepted pork barrel allocations or budget insertions throughout his tenure as senator.
He further claimed that he had consistently refused offers from lobbyists and alleged that Cayetano benefited from kickbacks tied to slope protection and other infrastructure projects.
Before ending his statement, Lacson suggested that alleged ghost flood control projects in Taguig City could become the focus of future investigations, adding that Cayetano should not be surprised if the issue reaches the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.
elamigo/