The following letter was written and addressed to the media by Engr. Selwyn Lao, a top-notch engineering graduate of Mapua University. Mr. Lao twice came in second place in the board examinations for civil engineers and environmental engineers.

He is the president of Wing-An Construction and Development Corp., and an expert in environmental engineering.

Environmental engineering is a field focused on protecting the environment and human health by addressing pollution, waste management, and resource management. It involves designing, constructing, and managing systems and structures to improve environmental quality and public health.

Engineers apply scientific principles to solve a wide range of problems related to air, water, and pollution, as well as sustainable resource management.

He could have been the best for Pasig City, but Mayor Vico Sotto does not like him.

Engr. Selwyn Lao had made a public pronouncement that the new P9.6-billion City Hall of Mayor Sotto should only be P3.2 billion. He said that P9.6 billion is anomalous and corrupt.

“In response to several allegations made in public against me by Mayor Vico Sotto, including statements published on his social media accounts and in his responses to various media requests for comment under the guise of fair and accurate reporting, I am compelled to submit this summary of events. This submission is made solely to ensure accurate, impartial, and good-faith reporting, and to clarify that I, Engr. Selwyn Lao has been the subject of malicious imputations and false accusations by Mayor Vico Sotto.

“This is not a retaliatory statement nor a political maneuver. Instead, it is a sincere attempt to set the record straight, given that my side has consistently acted within the law and has exercised my rights as a concerned citizen in seeking redress through legitimate and appropriate channels.

“As you may already be aware, several statements, reports, and insinuations have been made to the media. Many of these statements appear to have been made to discredit me and divert attention from the real issues. I have persistently brought to the attention of local authorities, including Mayor Sotto himself.

“I have, therefore, been left with no other option but to speak out in this manner to ensure that my side is heard and that the public is given a chance to assess the facts fairly.

“As a long-time investor and stakeholder in Pasig City, I attempted to seek assistance and support from the new city administration under Mayor Vico Sotto. My efforts were made in good faith, but I was consistently met with harassment from various government officials under his administration.”

This coming Tuesday, 19 August, we shall have the entire episode on the sufferings of Engr. Selwyn Lao in the hands of Mayor Vico Sotto.

In addition, we shall have the following gorilla on Mayor Sotto’s back: Where now are the recoverable and numerous items of value in the demolition of the vast old city hall of Pasig City. Was there an official inventory made of them? Were they classified, duly accounted for, and recorded in the books of accounts?