MANILA — Senator Mark Villar has expressed concern over reports that some contractors may have submitted falsified geotagged photographs of government projects to justify payments.

“Did these faulty contractors submit faked geotagged photos? If so, that is outright fraud,” Villar said. “No contractor should have been able to collect from the government on the basis of deception.”

Villar recalled that during his tenure as Public Works Secretary, he had already mandated the use of geotagging as a measure to promote transparency and accountability. He said the requirement applied not only upon project completion but also during construction, with photos required to be time-stamped and location-based to prevent tampering.

“The whole purpose of mandatory geotagging was to make sure the government and the public could verify that work was actually being done where and when it was supposed to be. If contractors have found ways to cheat the system, that is an abuse of public trust and it must be investigated thoroughly,” he said.

The senator stressed that submitting fabricated project documentation, including falsified geotagged photos, is fraudulent and should carry legal consequences. He urged concerned agencies to hold erring contractors accountable and safeguard public funds against such practices.