Palace: President Wants Thorough Probe, No Cover-Up, as Dizon Clarifies Taguig Remark Amid Leyte Project Issue
Malacañang says the President wants a proper and thorough investigation, with no one protected, even allies. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro made the statement on September 28, 2026, following a reported exchange between Senator Lacson and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon over a statement about Taguig and a project tagged in Leyte.
During the press briefing with the Malacañang Press Corps, a reporter said Lacson called out Dizon for saying there was no anomalous project in Taguig, when there was a project tagged in Leyte. According to the reporter, details of that project returned to the DPWH website only after the senator raised the matter. The reporter also said Dizon had reportedly apologized to the senator for his statement during the Senate hearing.
Castro, who is also a Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary, said she spoke directly with Dizon, who clarified his remarks. According to her, Dizon was referring only to the 10 projects he knows to be conclusive ghost projects, and what was asked of him was not among those 10.
Castro stressed that this does not mean there are no anomalies in Taguig. Dizon is not saying there are none, and he is not saying there are. She added that a more careful and meticulous investigation is needed, because there should be no cover-up.
The reporter also cited Lacson as saying there will be liability on the DPWH side if a cover-up is proven. Asked how confident the Palace is that this won't happen under Dizon's leadership, Castro said Dizon is probably listening, and that if there are DPWH personnel who want to hide the truth, this serves as a reminder. She said the President wants a proper and sufficient investigation, with no one protected and nothing hidden, especially if allies are involved.
For Leyte, the exchange puts a project tagged in the province in the spotlight. The briefing gave no details on the project's type, cost, exact location, or investigation status, and Castro did not say whether it is among the 10 conclusive ghost projects.
Quick Summary
- What: Malacañang says the President wants a thorough, no-cover-up probe, after a reported exchange between Senator Lacson and DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon over a Taguig remark and a Leyte-tagged project.
- Where: National issue, with a project tagged in Leyte cited; Taguig also discussed.
- When: September 28, 2026.
- Impact on Visayas: A Leyte-tagged project was cited in the exchange; no details on its status were given.
- Source: PCO Press Briefing with the Malacañang Press Corps, Palace Press Officer and PCO Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro, via Radio Television Malacañang (RTVM), September 28, 2026.