The Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) has ordered the preventive suspension for six months of the mayor of Porac town in Pampanga, his vice mayor, eight Sangguniang Bayan members, and a licensing officer in connection with the operation of the raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) in the municipality.
In an order issued by Ombudsman Samuel R. Martires last Oct. 7, suspended were Mayor Jaime V. Capil, Vice Mayor Francis Laurence C. Tamayo, Sangguniang Bayan Members Rohner L. Buan, Rafael M. Canlapan, Adrian R. Carreon, Regin B. Clarete, Essel Joy C. David, Hilario D. Dimalanta, Michelle B. Santos, and John Nuevy L. Venzon, and town Licensing Officer Emerald Vital.
Their suspension was issued based on an administrative complaint for gross neglect of duty filed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) after the raid of Lucky South 99, a POGO in Porac town.
In his order, Martires said: “They are hereby preventively suspended during the pendency of this case until its termination, but not to exceed the total period of six months, without pay.”
“In case of delay in the disposition of this case due to fault, negligence or any cause attributable to the respondents, the period of delay shall not be counted in computing the period of suspension,” the order stated.
“In accordance with Section 27, paragraph (1), RA 6770 (the 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 prescribe,” it added.
The OMB said the DILG pointed out that the “inaction and willful non-compliance of their duties… paved the way for the continuous operation of Lucky South 99 despite the 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 also said the complaint stated that the town officials “failed to exercise legislative oversight for the welfare of Porac LGU (local government unit) 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.”
In its complaint, the DILG pleaded for the preventive suspension of the town officials.
None of those preventively suspended could be contacted for comment as of posting time.