Legal experts raise confidentiality rule violation against Lacson over social media posts targeting Cayetano

Legal experts raise confidentiality rule violation against Lacson over social media posts targeting Cayetano

By TheNATIONWEEK.com News Desk | October 6, 2026

MANILA, Philippines – Legal practitioners and observers have raised concerns over potential violations of the Office of the Ombudsman’s strict confidentiality rules committed by Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson following his continued public statements and social media posts targeting Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano.

The scrutiny stems from Lacson’s recent release of a 25-second video snippet on his social media accounts. The video depicted a joint field inspection in the Taguig Lakeshore area conducted by the Office of the Ombudsman, the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA), the Land Registration Authority (LRA), and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Requesting anonymity, legal experts pointed out that under Republic Act No. 6770 (The Ombudsman Act of 1989) and its accompanying investigative guidelines, specifically Administrative Order No. 1, Series of 2026 under Rule IV, Section 5, all fact-finding investigations, witness testimonies, and submitted evidence are classified as strictly confidential.

Legal professionals highlighted three core reasons behind the legal framework’s mandate to keep proceedings private while an official evaluation is ongoing:

• Protection against trial by publicity; it prevents the media or social media platforms from being used to influence public opinion prior to an official resolution by Ombudsman investigators.
• It ensures that witnesses remain uninfluenced and that physical or documentary evidence is not preempted or altered.
• Guarantee of due process, as it protects the constitutional rights and reputation of respondents against premature exposure and unfair public judgment before a formal verdict is rendered.

Because Lacson had already formally submitted documents to the Office of the Ombudsman implicating Cayetano and the Taguig local government in alleged infrastructure irregularities, legal observers emphasized that the matter is already governed by strict confidentiality protocols.

Consequently, the continued dissemination of edited inspection videos and public accusations on social media has been criticized as undermining the integrity of the formal legal process.

The rift between the two senators began when Lacson publicized findings regarding an estimated 32 alleged “ghost” flood control and slope protection projects in Taguig City worth billions of pesos, alongside allegations of illegal reclamation covering roughly 170 hectares of Laguna Lake, linking the Cayetano family and local officials to the claims.

In response, the Taguig City government and Cayetano’s camp firmly denied the accusations. Clarifications during formal Senate hearings established that national agencies, primarily the DPWH, serve as the official project proponents for the infrastructure and reclamation works along the lakeshore, rather than the Taguig local government unit.

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