Ombudsman dismisses Porac, Pampanga mayor over POGO mess

MANILA, Philippines – The Office of the Ombudsman has dismissed Porac, Pampanga Mayor Jaime “Jing” Capil from service over his alleged ties to a local Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) exposed in his town last year.

In a resolution dated April 3, but was made public on Friday, April 4, the Ombudsman found Capil guilty of gross neglect of duty, imposing on him the penalty of dismissal from service, including the cancellation of his government service eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, and perpetual disqualification from reemployment in the government.

Meanwhile, the Ombudsman dismissed the complaint against the other respondents who are former members of the Porac local government.

It was the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) which filed the complaint against the Porac officials following the authorities’ June 2024 operation against the Lucky South 99 POGO located in Porac. Authorities operated on the POGO due to allegations of human trafficking. POGO player Katherine Cassandra Ong, who is at the center of a legislative probe, was allegedly connected to Lucky South.

Following the complaint, the Ombudsman ordered the suspension of Capil and other officials to ensure fairness in its probe.

The Ombudsman explained that there was “clear substantial evidence” to conclude that Capil committed the allegation for his actions as the mayor. Capil’s granting and issuing of mayor’s business permit in favor of Lucky South 99 POGO for 2021, 2022, and 2023 despite its non-compliance with mandatory requirements “are blatant substantiation of the legal transgressions that he committed,” the Ombudsman said.

The office noted the POGO had no letter of no objection to operate as POGO issued by the local government and had no corresponding Securities and Exchange Commission registration to operate as POGO. The Ombudsman also noted Capil’s “conscious failure to monitor, supervise and intervene to prevent or, at the least, stop the reported atrocious illegal activities committed within the premises of his constituents.”

“These significant and undisputed circumstances happened under the close watch of Mayor Capil as overall administrator of Porac LGU which clearly demonstrated his predisposition to favor the grant and continued operation of Lucky South 99 as POGO in Porac at all costs despite the unfavorable odds against it,” the Ombudsman said.

“In fact, it required the intervention by the national government through the raid of PAOCC on the premises of Lucky South 99 for said anomalies and criminal activities to be exposed, and for the known perpetrators to be eventually prosecuted and brought to justice,” it added.

In a statement, Capil said he will face his dismissal and will seek appropriate remedies.

“Para po sa mga Poraquenong walang sawang nagmamahal, sumusuporta, at nagtatanggol sa akin at sa buong Team Bayung Porac, wag po kayong magaalala, TULOY PO ANG ATING KANDIDATURA. Higit kailan man, sa eleksyon na ito ay kailangan namin ang inyong buong suporta (To Poraqueños who give love, support, and look after me endlessly, to my Team Bayung Porac, do not worry, our candidacy pushes through. More than ever, we need your support especially in these elections),” Capil added. – Rappler.com