Councilor Myla Clarete has taken her oath as acting mayor of Porac, Pampanga.

This after the Office of the Ombudsman suspended Mayor Jing Capil and 10 others preventively for six months in relation to the issue of alleged illegal POGO operation in the town.

Among those also suspended are the vice mayor, former officer-in-charge of the Business Permit and Licensing Office, and eight members of the Municipal Council.

According to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), local political groups would have to nominate replacements for the councilors suspended.

”Tinignan na ng aming department kung anong parties ang dapat fill-upan. Kasi this will be through party nomination, yung filling up ng mga vacancies dahil sa suspension. So, majority is from Kambilan, so we’ll be requesting highest party nomination na expedite na yung pagpili ng mga recommendees nila para mai-forward na sa central office,” said DILG-Pampanga Director Myra Soriano.

DILG said the preventive suspension would allow authorities to investigate the POGO compound in Porac further.

On his Facebook page, Capil said they accept and respect the Ombudsman’s decision. He said he trusts in the justice system and that they will take steps to clean their names.

Clarete, for her part, said the issues the town is facing do not stop the local government from providing services to the people.

“Nakipag-meeting na ako with some of the department heads para mailatag ang mga plano at para tuloy-tuloy na din yung serbisyo para sa mamamayan po ng Porac,” Clarete told GMA Regional TV One North Central Luzon.

Clarete replaced her brother in the Council after the latter passed away in 2023.