MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Construction Accreditation Board (PCAB) should address the reported "accreditation for sale" scandal and not simply deny it, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said on Friday. Attached to the Department of Trade and Industry, the PCAB is one of the implementing Boards in the Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines.

The senator said that while the PCAB issued a statement claiming the shortcuts-for-a-fee practice was the "work of scammers," it has to explain how some contractors got their accreditation after paying up.

The PCAB on Thursday claimed that there were "certain individuals and entities" on social media claiming to be connected with PCAB and offering "shortcuts" for a fee. It said it has been "proactive" in addressing these issues.

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"Instead of merely denying reports of misconduct involving what they claim to be scammers misrepresenting them, PCAB leadership should look at their own people and police their ranks," Lacson said in a statement.

"For how can they explain why certain contractors who, after coughing up at least P2 million were actually issued accreditation by PCAB?" he asked.

Lacson on Wednesday said he received information that the PCAB resortsedto "accreditation for sale."