Ombudsman suspends Porac mayor, 10 others over POGO-linked crimes

The Office of the Ombudsman has suspended the mayor of Porac town in Pampanga, nine other local officials, and a municipal hall officer over crimes linked to the operation of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO).

The order, signed by Ombudsman Samuel Martires, suspended Mayor Jaime Capil, Vice Mayor Francis Laurence Tamayo, and councilors Rohner Buan, Rafael Canlapan, Adrian Carreon, Regin Clarete, Essel Joy David, Hilario Dimalanta, Michelle Santos, and John Nuevy Venzon. Licensing assistant/then officer-in-charge of Business and Licensing officer Emerald Vital was also suspended.

The suspension due to alleged gross neglect of duty will be for six months and without pay.

“In accordance with Section 27, par. (1), RA 6770 (Ombudsman law), this Order is immediately executory. Notwithstanding any motion, appeal, or petition that may be filed by respondents seeking relief from this Order, unless otherwise ordered by this Office or by any court of competent jurisdiction, the implementation of this Order shall not be interrupted within the period prescribed,” the Ombudsman said. 

The Ombudsman’s decision came amid the ongoing multiple investigations on the proliferation of POGO-linked crimes within Porac and nearby Bamban, Tarlac.

GMA News Online has reached out to Capil's comment but has yet to respond as of posting time.

The DILG accused Capil and the nine others of inaction and willful non-compliance of their duties as  they allowed the continuous operation of POGO firm Lucky South 99 amid the following instances:

• issuance of Mayor's Business Permit for the years 2021, 2022, and 2023 despite lack of prior regulatory requirements
• expiration of Lucky South 99’s license obtained from the state regulator Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor)
• Porac Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO) issuing a certification that Lucky South 99 has no business permit for the year 2024
• lack of Letter of No Objection (LONO) for Lucky South 99 to operate as POGO; and
• letters of the Philippine National Police reporting suspected criminal activities within Lucky South 99's premises.

"It bears stressing that they failed to exercise legislative oversight for the welfare of Porac LGU and its inhabitants by failing to enact an ordinance or resolution intended to prevent and suppress the commission of criminal activities within Lucky South 99's premises," the DILG said.

“As a matter of fact, except for the LONO Resolution dated 05 November 2019, the SB (Sangguniang Bayan) failed to check/oversee/monitor the activities of its LONO grantee up to the time a raid was conducted by PAOCC on 04 June 2024,” the DILG added.

PAOCC is the Philippine Anti Organized Crime Commission. — LDF/ VDV, GMA Integrated News