Plunder, malversation charges filed against Porac mayor, 3 others

Plunder and malversation charges have been filed before the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) against Mayor Jaime V. Capil of Porac, Pampanga and three other town officials in connection with the P138.5 million in missing and unaccounted funds.
 
Also charged were Municipal Planning and Development Coordination head Jaypee Martinez, Municipal Engineering Office head Arlon Canlas, and Executive Assistant Bienvenido Guiao.
 
Capil and his group have yet to file their counter-affidavits on the complaints.
 
Aside from plunder, complainant Louie Valencia De Mesa also alleged that they should be held liable for grave misconduct, conduct unbecoming of a public servant, grave abuse of authority, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, extortion, oppression, failure to account, and violation of the Anti-Red Tape Law.
 
In his complaint, De Mesa said he sent a letter to Capil last January 22 and sought copies of disbursement vouchers and detailed accounting related to the funds disbursed by the mayor’s office from 2019 to 2020.
 
In particular, De Mesa sought the documents on the purchase of one unit bulldozer, rental of equipment, and construction of line canal at Manibaug Paralaya.
 
He wanted the documents on the renovation, landscaping, and beautification of the municipal hall amounting to P5.3 million as well as the mayor office’s grants and donation worth P5 million.
 
Also, he asked for the documents on the purchase of assorted goods worth P30 million, grants and donations worth P12 million, burial assistance worth P9 million, purchase of consumable goods worth P23 million and P27,014,017, as well as various coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) assistance given to different sectors of the municipality amounting to P20.5 million.
 
De Mesa lamented that he did not receive any reply from the mayor.
 
Among other allegations, De Mesa claimed that Capil used the funds for his personal interest as he cited the “pagdami ng ari-arian” (increase in properties)" of Capil in different barangays in Porac in the name of his “dummies."
 
He also alleged that Capil has earned more than P51 million from quarry activities in Porac town.