MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Special Assistant to the President (OSAP) on Thursday maintained that it has no involvement in any projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). In a statement, Secretary Anton Lagdameo slammed repeated attempts to link his office, as well as the Office of the Executive Secretary, to questionable DPWH projects as supposedly indicated in circulating documents. “To clarify, the OSAP is not an implementing agency. It has no technical mandate to identify infrastructure projects, nor does it exercise line-item authority over the DPWH’s internal budget listings. Any claim or insinuation suggesting otherwise is unfounded, false, and misleading,” Lagdameo said. “The Office is compelled to address this matter as similar attempts to invoke the name of the Special Assistant to the President, or the Office itself, have surfaced repeatedly. The continued misuse of the SAP’s name or office - whether to suggest influence, involvement, or endorsement where none exists - is improper, irresponsible, and must stop,” he added. The official reiterated that while those truly responsible for the misdeeds must be unmasked, there should be no shortcuts in the process. “Overeagerness to exact accountability cannot justify recklessness. The pursuit of justice must remain grounded in facts, not in the hasty weaponization of loose, unverified, or misinterpreted information. The circulation of false claims does not advance accountability; it diverts attention from the real issues and delays their proper resolution through the appropriate institutions,” Lagdameo said. “The OSAP remains steadfast in its support for transparency and accountability and fully backs the work of agencies and officials who are undertaking legitimate investigations and quietly serving the public interest,” he added. He gave assurances that the OSAP will “cooperate with any inquiry conducted in the proper forum, grounded in evidence and guided by constitutional principles of due process.” “Until then, the OSAP will not be distracted by speculation and will continue to discharge its duties in accordance with its mandate,” Lagdameo said.