By Melvin C. Gascon
A town mayor in Cagayan province has accused Cagayan 3rd Dist. Rep. Joseph “Pulsar” Lara of allegedly profiting from projects carried out by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), using his firm as the private contractor.
In a Facebook post, Alcala Mayor Cristina Antonio condemned how various DPWH projects in the province, including monuments, bridges and university dormitories conspicuously brandished the lawmaker’s family name disguised under the tagline “KaunLARAn.”
What is fantastically twisted and abhorrent in this congressman’s case is his brazenness and lack of shame,” Antonio said.
Not only does he have his own construction firm from which he profits from government contracts and which he uses to fuel their politics, he and his wife emblazon the construction firm in their names: Jojo “Pulsar” Lara, Dok Zarah “Pulsar” Lara,” she added.
The mayor was alluding to a Rappler report which found that Lara’s family firm hauled P2 billion in DPWH contracts in Cagayan since 2020, which is when Lara became a congressman.
The mayor urged Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon and the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI) to investigate the alleged irregularities, including the possible conflict of interest arising from Lara’s construction business.
She also voiced support for college journalists and young activists at Cagayan State University (CSU) who have publicly denounced the congressman’s “shamelessness.”
Their CSU students’ courage should mark a turning point in public accountability, Antonio said.
“I support the students and millennials who are brave and vocal in denouncing his shamelessness, whom he is trying to silence,” she said.
“I hope the media continues to expose him without let-up. I hope this time of public ire truly becomes a watershed moment,” Antonio added.
The mayor criticized how many DPWH projects in Lara’s congressional district are printed with “KaunLARAn,” calling these acts of “epal.”
“Epal” is Filipino slang derived from “mapapel” — literally, someone who always wants to be in the spotlight.
In politics, “epal” refers to officials who claim credit for government-funded projects by plastering their names, faces, or slogans on public infrastructure such as bridges, waiting sheds, school buildings, ambulances, or relief goods.
It is commonly considered political self-promotion using public funds.
According to Commission on Audit Circular 2013–004 and Department of the Interior and Local Government Memorandum Circular 2010–101:
“Government projects and properties should not bear the name, initials, logo, or image of any public official…Government programs are funded by the people and should not be used to advance personal or political interests.”
While the word “KaunLARAn” itself sounds like a generic advocacy slogan, the capitalization of “LARA” unmistakably refers to Lara and his wife, Dr. Zarah Lara, who ran for governor but lost in the 2025 elections.
“In the most epal way, they put KaunLARAn on DPWH (projects) — bridges, gymnasiums, roads, state university campuses, and even student dormitories,” Antonio said.
The mayor, a lawyer, said the lawmaker and his wife have “completely lost sight” of their roles in public service, pointing out that as a member of Congress, Lara should not be involved in the awarding or execution of contracts.
“They are proud to claim these government projects as their own, completely losing sight of the fact that as congressman, the job is to make laws — they shouldn’t even be involved in contracts or executive function in any way,” she said.
Antonio cited what she called the “most embarrassing and laughable” display of self-promotion — the couple’s faces allegedly etched on the Tuguegarao ‘KaunLARAn’ Rotunda, a public art installation at the provincial capital.
“The Tuguegarao Rotunda is the DPWH’s first attempt at public art, and it has been completely corrupted and perverted,” Antonio said.
In an Oct. 7 statement, Lara denied allegations of conflict of interest involving Pulsar Construction, saying he resigned as company president in 2018, before filing his candidacy for Congress
He said he has since had no involvement in the firm’s operations and claimed that it is now run by his children.
He did not respond to criticisms that he was flashing his name on DPWH projects. #
