politics – Author Carlo Carrasco

Trump Announces $1,776 Christmas Bonus For American Troops

December 19, 2025December 18, 2025carlocarrasco

I believe that every nation has to reward its armed forces in return for the extensive services they rendered for the citizens and the government throughout the year. Just today, I learned via a Newsmax news report that US President Donald Trump announced that every active-duty member of the United States Armed Forces will receive a Christmas bonus worth $1,776 – called the Warrior Dividend – and already the checks are on their way to them (1.45 million service members).

Before proceeding with the news and details, let me remind you all that Christmas is all about Lord Jesus, and never about the character called Santa Claus. Lord Jesus is our Savior and the Hope of ALL nations! Wherever you are, celebrate Christmas with your family remembering Lord Jesus and living on with His peace. All the praise, honor and thanks to the Lord!

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of Newsmax. Some parts in boldface…

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday night that every active-duty member of the U.S. armed forces will receive a $1,776 Christmas bonus, unveiling what he called the “Warrior Dividend” during a nationally televised prime-time address from the White House.

Trump said the one-time payment would go to roughly 1.45 million service members and is already being distributed, with checks scheduled to arrive before Christmas. The amount, Trump said, was deliberately chosen to honor America’s founding in 1776. That’s just ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary, to be celebrate (throughout) the coming year.

“I am also proud to announce that 1,450,000 military service members will receive a special — we call Warrior Dividend — before Christmas, a Warrior Dividend in honor of our nation’s founding in 1776,” Trump said during the address, which was carried live by Newsmax from the White House Diplomatic Room.

“We are sending every soldier $1,776. The checks are already on the way,” Trump said. “Nobody deserves it more than our military. And I say congratulations to everybody.”

The Warrior Dividend emerged as a highlight of Trump’s year-end prime-time address, which the White House framed as a review of economic gains and fiscal changes achieved during his second term and promised gains in the (coming) years of the president’s second term. The speech focused heavily on revenue growth, job creation, and what Trump described as a reshaping of federal finances.

Trump tied the military bonus directly to increased government revenue generated through tariffs and recent legislation, arguing that stronger trade enforcement and changes in economic policy produced results that exceeded projections.

“We made a lot more money than anybody thought because of tariffs, and the bill helped us along,” Trump said.

The president cast the dividend as both a tangible reward and a symbolic gesture, presenting it as recognition of service members’ sacrifices while reinforcing claims of economic revival. Trump said the payment reflects an administration that prioritizes military families and uses economic strength to deliver direct benefits rather than expanding federal debt.

The prime-time address marked Trump’s final nationally televised speech of the year and served as a capstone to a broader messaging effort focused on economic performance. Trump used the speech to highlight tariff revenue, domestic manufacturing investment, and wage growth, arguing that those factors allowed the administration to deliver what he described as meaningful, immediate relief.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you find the Warrior Dividend a nice bonus for the active members of the United States Armed Forces? Are you looking forward to the 250^th Independence Day of the America? What are your current feelings or opinions about the US Armed Forces right now?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Almost 1,800 Las Piñas City Senior Citizens Receive 4th Quarter Social Pension Payout

December 18, 2025December 10, 2025carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Las Piñas, almost one thousand and eight hundred senior citizens five barangays received their social pension payout for the 4^th quarter, the City Government confirmed via social media. Mayor April Aguilar personally attended the distribution.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from social media post of the City Government (translated from Tagalog to English). Some parts in boldface…

The first day of Social Pension Payout was happily held, where almost 1,800 senior citizens from the barangays of Almanza Dos, Almanza Uno, Talon Dos, Daniel Fajardo, and Ilaya received their 4th quarter social pension.

Our seniors received 3,000 pesos (1,000 pesos per month) for the last quarter of the year. Payout was held at the air-conditioned Aguilar Sports Complex to ensure a comfortable and smooth flow of the program, especially for our seniors.

Mayor April Aguilar wants this pension to be given immediately to be used for their daily needs, and most of all, so they can have something to use this coming Christmas.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Did many senior citizens from your local community receive their social pension payout?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

Las Piñas City Lying-In Clinic Sets Schedule Of Check-Ups For High-Risk Expectant Mothers

December 15, 2025December 15, 2025carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Las Piñas, the Las Piñas City Lying-In Clinic will be available for check-ups of high-risk expectant mothers two days per week, according to a news report by the Daily Tribune.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of the Daily Tribune. Some parts in boldface…

The Las Piñas City Lying-In Clinic designated Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 a.m to 5 p.m. for check-ups of high-risk expectant mothers.

According to the Las Piñas Public Information Office, patients qualified for the schedule include those with a history of cesarean section, or other uterine surgery, gynecological issues such as abnormal bleeding, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), or myoma.

Mothers aged 35 to 39 in their first and fifth-time pregnancies, and those with existing conditions such as hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, or goiter are also qualified.

Patients are reminded to bring their voter’s registration record, greencard, referral from their respective health center, and previous results of ultrasound or laboratory.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Were there many AKAP beneficiaries among the members of your local community?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Over 700 AKAP Beneficiaries Of Las Piñas Receive Financial Assistance

December 13, 2025December 5, 2025carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Las Piñas, more than seven hundred local Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita (AKAP) formally received financial assistance distributed by the City Government, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…

The city government of Las Piñas distributed financial assistance to over 700 Las Piñeros, amounting to P3,000, to beneficiaries of the Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita (AKAP) program on Dec. 3.

Las Piñas Mayor April Aguilar said the beneficiaries of the AKAOP program will help them with their daily expenses.

Aguilar said the beneficiaries include members of the ERPATs organization, persons with disabilities (PWDs), senior citizens, and other vulnerable sectors in the community.

She said that through AKAP, the city government continues to strengthen programs that provide protection and much-needed support to families who need it the most.

The mayor expressed her gratitude to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and team leader Jessica Estevis for overseeing and assisting in the payout.

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Trump Administration Weighs Hitting UNRWA With Terrorism Sanctions

December 12, 2025December 11, 2025carlocarrasco

I want to make things very clear here…the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNWA) is a very twisted agency of the United Nations (UN) working in close partnership with Palestinian terrorists. It pretends to be providing relief and human development of Palestinian refugees when, in fact, it empowers Islamic terrorists. The wickedness of UNRWA is so clear and obvious, it is not surprising that officials of the Trump administration are already discussing hitting the agency with terrorism-related sanctions, according to a Newsmax news report.

Before examining the Newsmax report, you can learn first many details about UNRWA by watching the YouTube videos posted below. Pay close attention to the details.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of Newsmax. Some parts in boldface…

Trump administration officials have held advanced discussions on hitting U.N. Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA with terrorism-related sanctions, said two sources with direct knowledge of the matter, prompting serious legal and humanitarian concerns inside the State Department.

The United Nations agency operates in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria, providing aid, schooling, healthcare, social services and shelter to millions of Palestinians.

Top U.N. officials and the U.N. Security Council have described UNRWA as the backbone of the aid response in Gaza, where the two-year war between Israel and Palestinian terrorist group Hamas unleashed a humanitarian catastrophe.

The Trump administration, however, has accused the agency of links with Hamas, allegations UNRWA has vigorously disputed.

Washington was long UNRWA’s biggest donor, but halted funding in January 2024 after Israel accused about a dozen UNRWA staff of taking part in the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terror attack that triggered the war in Gaza. Hamas killed more than 1,200 people and kidnapped another 251 people to Gaza.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio then accused the agency in October this year of becoming “a subsidiary of Hamas,” which the U.S. designated as a terrorist organization in 1997.

It was not immediately clear if current U.S. discussions were focused on sanctioning the entire agency – or just specific UNRWA officials or parts of its operation, and U.S. officials do not appear to have settled on the precise type of sanctions they would deploy against UNRWA.

The possibilities that State Department officials have discussed include declaring UNRWA a “foreign terrorist organization,” or FTO, the sources said, though it is not clear if that option – which would severely isolate UNRWA financially – is still a serious consideration.

Any blanket move against the entire organization could throw refugee relief efforts into disarray and cripple UNRWA, which is already facing a funding crisis.

Sanctioning UNRWA on terrorism-related grounds would be striking and unusual, as the United States is a member and the host country of the United Nations, which created the United Nations Relief and Works Agency in 1949.

William Deere, director of the UNRWA office in Washington, said the agency would be “disappointed” if U.S. officials were in fact discussing an FTO designation. He said such a move would be “both unprecedented and unwarranted.”

“Since January 2024, four independent entities have investigated UNRWA’s neutrality including the U.S. National Intelligence Council. While occurring at different times and from different perspectives, they have all come to the same conclusion: UNRWA is an indispensable, neutral, humanitarian actor,” Deere said.

In response to a request for comment, a State Department official called UNRWA a “corrupt organization with a proven track record of aiding and abetting terrorists.”

“Everything is on the table,” the official said. “No final decisions have yet been made.”

The White House did not respond to requests for comment.

The State Department and other departments have various sanctioning options at their disposal, which generally allow for asset freezes and travel bans targeted at specific individuals and entities.

An FTO designation would be among the most severe tools available to Washington and such designations are generally reserved for groups who kill civilians, like branches of Islamic State and al-Qaeda.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think now is the time for the United States under President Donald Trump’s leadership to make significant moves to dismantle UNRWA on terrorism charges? Do you think the United Nations is lying and getting desperate in protecting UNRWA? Should UNRWA’s presence in the United States be close down? Do you think the evidence proving UNRWA’s links with Palestinian terrorist group Hamas is strong enough to justify sanctioning them?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Over 1,500 Las Piñas PWDs Receive School Supplies From City Government

December 11, 2025December 3, 2025carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Las Piñas, over one thousand five hundred persons with disabilities (PWDs) received free school supplies from the City Government and no less than Mayor April Aguilar herself witnessed the distribution, according to the local government’s social media post.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the City Government’s social media post. Some parts in boldface…

More than 1,500 PWDs (Persons with Disabilities) and their families happily received the free school supplies from the City Government of Las Piñas.

Mayor April Aguilar, together with Elderly PWDs and PDAO Focal Person Ronald Monfero and CSWDO Head Lowefe Romulo, led the Awarding and Distribution of School Supplies for PWD in the city. Each bag contains school supplies, umbrella, lunch box, alcohol, and tumbler to ensure everyone is prepared for their studies.

The moment became emotional when Mayor April met especially the PWD beneficiaries. Feeling the joy and love in every hug, smile, and story with families.

PWDs and parents have extended their gratitude to the local government for its continuous program that helps, cares, and gives hope.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Are you satisfied with what the City Government released to the PWDs? Has the City Government’s support for local PWDs been good over the past 12 months?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Trump Administration Rescued Over 62,000 Migrant Children From Human Trafficking

December 10, 2025December 9, 2025carlocarrasco

Illegal immigration is not only problematic for American citizens, it also puts minors into dangerous situations. As America continues to actively solve the illegal immigration crisis, White House border czar confirmed that more than sixty-two thousand migrant children were rescued by the Trump administration from human trafficking, according to a news report by Newsmax.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of Newsmax. Some parts in boldface…

White House border czar Tom Homan said the Trump administration has rescued more than 62,000 migrant children from human trafficking.

“Over half a million children were smuggled into this country under Joe Biden. They lost track of 300,000,” Homan said Sunday on “Fox & Friends.”

Homan was referring to a Department of Homeland Security inspector general report that found nearly 291,000 unaccompanied minors had not yet been issued immigration court notices as of May 2024, and about 32,000 had missed hearings.

The watchdog report did not state that those children were definitively “missing,” but it warned that DHS lacked the tools to reliably track their whereabouts and respond to risks.

Homan described President Donald Trump’s second-term response as immediate and aggressive.

“President Trump committed on day one that we will do everything we can to find every one of these children,” Homan said.

Federal agencies launched joint operations to locate kids released to sponsors who never followed up, disappeared from contact, or were flagged for potential criminal exploitation.

DHS has also said it uncovered a backlog of tens of thousands of neglected child-safety leads and restarted investigations into suspect sponsors.

“We know many of them are in sex trafficking. Many are in forced labor. Many are being abused,” Homan added, saying investigators have found children working in dangerous jobs and being sold for sex.

He declined to share details about particular cases. “I can’t discuss some of the mistreatment we found out about.”

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think that more migrant children will be rescued from human trafficking as the Trump administration and its federal agents keep on solving the many problems related to illegal immigration? Do you think the administration of the failed US President Joe Biden neglected to anticipate the risks on migrant children as they allowed illegal immigration to worsen? Do you think the previous administration conspired with human traffickers and other organizations who added to the illegal immigration problem of the United States?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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AI-Generated Images Continue To Deceive People

December 9, 2025December 2, 2025carlocarrasco

Images created with artificial intelligence (AI) applications that got shared on social media continue to fool people. It is unfortunate because AI is so accessible through apps and online, people can use them and create fake stuff that easily capture people’s attention.

For starters, look what happened in Japan when someone used generative AI to create a fake image about a bear on a road, shared it online and scared the local community. This was during the time when bear attacks in Japan increased.

Recently, deception caused by AI-generated imagery took its toll in parts of Southeast Asia. To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the technology article of VnExpress.net. Some parts in boldface…

When Thu saw a viral video purportedly showing a woman and her grandchild trapped in floodwaters in central Vietnam, she almost shared it until some things made her pause.

Thanh Thu first encountered an AI hoax last month when she believed a photo showing dozens of people clinging to rooftops during flooding in Thai Nguyen Province in the north was real. The grainy quality made the picture convincing at first glance.

“But on closer look, it made no sense as multiple helicopters were hovering just above the water yet not rescuing anyone,” she says

That experience made her more cautious. So when she saw the new flooding video, she examined it again and noticed the grandmother’s face was blurred and distorted, while nearby people appeared calm, chatting casually with water only reaching their knees.

“The footage was heart-breaking at first and gave me a strong urge to share it, but I realized in time that it was AI-generated just to attract views,” the 28-year-old in HCMC says.

In recent months, her social media feeds have been filled with photos of friends posing in destinations around the world, their faces retouched to look like models. But when she noticed that photos from various friends had identical settings, with only their faces changed, she realized the images were AI-generated.

In Hanoi, Hoang Viet, 27, has also been fooled by AI-generated content. A nature enthusiast, he once spent more than an hour watching a TikTok video about a supposed “rainbow mushroom” and even took notes for research. “Later I did more research and asked experts only to find out the species does not exist at all,” he says.

He recalls being frightened by clips of “sea monsters revived” or wild animals jumping on trampolines, all low-quality videos resembling security footage but drawing tens of millions of views. “All of them were fake.” After these experiences, he now cross-checks any information using reliable news sources or academic materials before accepting it as true.

The rise of tools such as OpenAI’s Sora, Google’s Veo 3 and Runway this year has caused a surge in AI-generated images and videos, from staged travel photos to recreated images with deceased relatives.

According to digital transformation expert Dr. Dinh Ngoc Son, AI-generated content is designed to exploit emotions and curiosity. “Sensational or unusual information always spreads faster,” he says. “As AI improves realism, the spread becomes stronger, creating an emotional whirlwind that is difficult to control.”

He says authenticity and digital ethics have become major challenges. As generative AI advances, the line between real and fake is becoming increasingly thin. He cites fabricated flood rescue clips and deepfake news anchors as examples.

In July Malaysian newspaper The Star reported that a couple in Kuala Lumpur drove 300 kilometers to a tourist destination only to find it did not exist and had been entirely produced by AI. “When users share such content without verification, it distorts public perception and undermines trustworthy information platforms,” Son says.

Cybersecurity specialist Ngo Minh Hieu, known as Hieu PC, says many people unknowingly expose personal data by uploading their photos to AI-powered editing apps. “With just a smartphone, anyone can create AI products,” the founder of the “Anti-Scam” project says. “While many use them for fun, scammers increasingly exploit them to deceive those who are less tech-savvy.”

At a national seminar on online fraud prevention in late October, Deputy Minister of Public Security Pham The Tung warned that criminals are taking advantage of AI and deepfake technologies to defraud citizens. On Oct. 28 anti-scam platform Chongluadao.vn issued a new alert about fraudsters using AI to manipulate e-commerce livestreams.

They take real sales videos, modify the sellers’ appearances to look physically disabled or ill, and re-upload them to solicit purchases from sympathizers. Scammers also create dozens of fake accounts to leave emotional comments, leveraging the bandwagon effect to deceive more viewers.

As someone who once bought products on livestreams of disabled people out of sympathy, Thu says the AI scam leaves her increasingly bewildered. “Now, when even images of those people can be faked, I do not know what to believe.”

To combat AI-driven misinformation, Son says joint action is needed from individuals, society and authorities. Individuals must improve their fact-checking skills, while the journalism and education industries should strengthen digital media literacy, he says.

Very clearly, AI has no soul and AI applications are being used for the wrong and irresponsible reasons. Not only are there tech users who use AI to make images or videos to grab people’s attention, there are criminals, fraudsters and scammers who use AI to steal money or information. This should remind you that technology can be abused a lot and affect people negatively.

*An example of AI-generated imagery. (credit to VnExpress.net)*

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Are you able to tell if a video you saw is generated by AI? Do you think a lot of people are abusing AI to grab people’s attention and increase their social media followers? Is your local government unit using AI through public services? Do you know anyone who became a victim of scammers who used AI?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Tokyo High Court Rules Japan’s Same-Sex Marriage Ban Constitutional

December 6, 2025November 29, 2025carlocarrasco

Recently in Japan, the Tokyo High Court ruled that the nation’s ban on same-sex marriage is constitutional, according to a news release published by Kyodo News. Already the woke mob, the liberals, the social justice warriors (SJWs) and the LGBTQ extremists – including those who are not even Japanese and are based outside of Japan – condemned the decision through social media and a fight at the Supreme Court of Japan is anticipated.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news release of Kyodo News. Some parts in boldface…

A Japanese court on Friday ruled that the country’s ban on same-sex marriage is constitutional, becoming the only high court to uphold the state’s position among six rulings on similar lawsuits filed nationwide.

The Tokyo High Court concluded the current civil law provisions that do not allow same-sex marriage are still reasonable under the current circumstances, in contrast with five earlier high court rulings in Sapporo, Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka and Fukuoka that said the lack of legal recognition of same sex marriage violated the Constitution. Those other rulings, however, all rejected compensation claims.

In handing down the latest ruling, Presiding Judge Ayumi Higashi said that the current marriage system is useful in preparing an environment for raising children, and that it is reasonable to interpret “husband and wife” as a man and a woman.

The ruling also said that the freedom of marriage guaranteed under Article 24 of the Constitution does not apply to same-sex couples, noting that “part of the effects of marriage can be substituted by contracts,” and that people can marry if they change their legal sex.

The court expressed concern, though, over stalled discussions in parliament, warning that if this situation continues, it could lead to violations of the constitutional guarantee of equality under the law. It also urged that being treated based on gender identity is an important legal interest.

As the plaintiffs plan to appeal, the Supreme Court is expected to issue a unified decision next year at the earliest.

In the latest lawsuit, eight plaintiffs in their 40s to 60s had sought 1 million yen ($6,400) in damages each, arguing civil law provisions that do not allow same-sex marriage violate the right to equality ensured under the Constitution and its guarantee of freedom of marriage.

The government denied that the provisions are unconstitutional, arguing that the Constitution defines marriage as between a man and a woman.

The plaintiffs had appealed a Tokyo District Court ruling in March 2024 that found the situation to be “in a state of unconstitutionality” but rejected their damages claims.

Among 12 high and lower court rulings so far, the Osaka District Court was the only other court that ruled that the lack of legal recognition is constitutional.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you seriously believe that having same-sex marriage (AKA gay marriage) will be beneficial to Japan socially and economically? Do you think that the LGBTQ and Leftist forces from around the world are secretly funding the same-sex marriage movement in Japan? Do you think it is inevitable for the Supreme Court of Japan to declare the same-sex marriage ban constitutional? Are you convinced that same-sex marriage in Japan will ruin not only Japanese families but also the nation’s society?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Las Piñas Congressman Points To Construction Firm Of Former City Councilor Over Multiple Public Works Contracts Worth Billions

November 28, 2025November 21, 2025carlocarrasco

Recently Las Piñas City’s congressman Mark Santos pointed to the construction firm of former city councilor and mayoral candidate Carlo Aguilar having cornered multiple public works contracts worth several billions of Pesos since 2016, according to a Malaya Business Insight news report.

For the newcomers reading this, former councilor Aguilar is the cousin of Senator Mark Villar who himself took office as secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in 2016 during the administration of then Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. During the 2025 National and Local Elections, Aguilar ran for mayor under the banner of the Villar political family but lost to then Vice Mayor April Aguilar.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of Malaya Business Insight. Some parts in boldface…

LAS Piñas Rep. Mark Anthony Santos yesterday said a construction firm of Carlo Aguilar cornered 161 public works contracts worth billions since 2016, the same year that his cousin Sen. Mark Villar was appointed as secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) by then President Rodrigo Duterte.

“The scale, frequency, and consistency of these awarding raise serious red flags that warrant immediate scrutiny,” he said in a statement, adding there is a “deeply alarming pattern” in national infrastructure spending.

The Villar family was linked to the flood control controversy after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said Aguilar’s I&E Construction was awarded P18.5 billion worth of flood control and infrastructure projects during his tenure as public works secretary under the Duterte administration.

Santos said according to official documents he has obtained, I&E Construction Corp. secured multiple projects in Las Piñas starting in 2016, including the construction and rehabilitation of a flood control structure along the Alabang–Zapote Road, worth P6.9 billion.

In the same year, he said, the DPWH awarded a P64.5-million contract to I&E for the construction of a slope protection structure along Naga Creek, also in Las Piñas.

In total, Santos said, I&E bagged 13 public works contracts that year, the same year that Villar was appointed as DPWH head.

“There are so many projects, it’s one after the other, worth billions. These projects didn’t just fall from the sky. The public deserves full transparency on how and why a single family-linked contractor repeatedly secured massive government contracts,” he said in mixed Filipino and English.

He urged the Office of the Ombudsman, the Commission on Audit (COA) Congress to look into “potential conflicts of interest, preferential treatment or violations of procurement laws.”

He also called on the DPWH to release all documents related to bidding, awards, and implementation of the 161 projects to ensure full transparency.

Santos cited the testimony of former public works undersecretary Roberto Bernardo before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee that commissions from approved DPWH projects were divided among officials: half to Aguilar and the remaining half was split between former undersecretary Maria Cabral and Bernardo, himself.

Santos said that in 2017, I&E secured six government infrastructure projects, including the P62.9-million construction of slope protection and other improvements at Talon Creek (from CAA Bridge to Talon Bridge).

Santos said the following year, I&E “captured” 12 multi-million-peso DPWH projects at a time when Mark’s mother, Cynthia, was an incumbent senator and his sister Camille was the lone representative of Las Piñas.

He said documents would show that the largest project that year was the construction of slope protection, including a box culvert and the removal of informal settlers, amounting to P120.7 million.

Santos said all 12 projects were implemented in Las Piñas “along routes leading to malls, subdivisions, and other business interests of the Villar family.”

In 2019, I&E got 14 additional government projects, including the P96.4 million for a flood control structure along the Las Piñas River and its tributaries and two major projects in Mariveles, Bataan: the P94-million road leading to tourism port facilities at the Freeport Area, and the P114.2-million network development program for the Bagac–Mariveles Road.

Santos, who noted that the Villar family has roots in Bataan, said Aguilar’s firm secured 10 government projects in 2020, including various local infrastructure improvements totaling P144.7 million, and the P96.5-million construction of port facilities in Mariveles.

The following year, he said, I&E was awarded 15 projects. Even after Villar resigned as DPWH secretary in October 2021 to run for senator, I&E “continued to secure contracts, cornering 22 projects in 2022, including the ₱144.7-million Laguna Lake Highway Extension (Phase 3), and the ₱289.301-million General Nakar–Dingalan Road, Package A in Quezon province,” Santos said.

This year, Santos said, the construction firm was awarded 17 government infrastructure projects, even as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered for a thorough investigation into the scam.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Do you think congressman Santos’ quest for truth behind the many projects involving I&E Construction will lead to a full investigation by the national government?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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