Cayetano warns DPWH: Lack of database on ghost projects fuels public distrust

Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Wednesday warned that the government’s continued failure to release a verified database of alleged ghost flood-control projects is weakening ongoing investigations and fueling public confusion.

During his interpellation on the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) proposed 2026 budget early morning of November 26, Cayetano again pressed the agency to produce a single, official list of the projects under question. “My proposal is that we define the terms and you have a counter, whether on your website or kay Presidente. [For example], ‘We’re looking at 8,000 projects. We’ve looked at 407 [that] are ghost.’ Para whether media or naninira sa gobyerno or nanglilito, [walang pagtatalunan],” he said.

The Minority Leader’s call echoed the same warning he has been raising in recent months in interviews and public statements. “Mas klaro y’ung facts, better y’ung debate,” he stressed. “Let’s be precise, not only for the cases kasi mato-throw out y’ung case. We owe it to the people to be truthful.”

Cayetano said the longer the government leaves the numbers unclear, the more room there is for misinformation and politically driven claims. He added that allowing unverified estimates to keep floating around, such as the widely mentioned figure of around 400 alleged ghost projects, would erode public trust if the actual number turns out to be much smaller. “Mark my words. If we keep using 400 then we find out it’s 100, the public will suspect pinagtakpan natin y’ung 300,” he said.

“The longer period na wala kayong database, mas magsususpetsa ang mga tao.” Non-oath statements can be useful leads Cayetano also argued that statements made outside formal hearings, including interviews, vlogs, and news reports, may still be leads if they come from major players in the controversy. “Everyone is saying ‘pag hindi ka under oath, walang value y’un… But lahat ng magsalita, may value. Bakit? It’s a lead,” he said. He added that while such statements may have no probative value in court, “major players” speaking publicly should not be ignored. “I’m not saying it’s true. And most people who will talk will have half-truths… Pero y’ung iba sa internet, sa vlog, sa news, hindi [totoong] walang value – lead y’un eh. Major player y’un eh,” he said.

Cayetano wrapped up his interpellation by reminding DPWH not to “paralyze” necessary public infrastructure as it works to resolve the massive flood-control scandal. “Two years from now, pag-uusapan nating dalawa: Sinong nakulong at tama ba y’ung nakulong? But two, may nagawa ba ang DPWH? [Kasi] kung may nakulong pero y’ung mga project na dapat nating ginawa ay hindi natin ginawa, [talo pa rin ang taumbayan],” he told DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon.