Dead Porac Councilor Among Officials Suspended Over POGO Hub

Porac Mayor Jing Capil is the second mayor suspended over POGOs, following dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo (Guo Hua Ping).

The Office of the Ombudsman has issued a preventive suspension order for several officials in Porac, Pampanga, in connection with the controversial operations of the Lucky South 99 offshore gaming company. Among those suspended is Councilor Regin Clarete, who has been dead for over a year. He passed away in May 2023.

The complaint leading to the suspension was filed by Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Juan Victor Llamas. He alleged gross neglect of duty linked to the activities of the Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) in the municipality.

The preventive suspension order affects several local officials, including Mayor Jaime “Jing” Capil and Vice Mayor Francis Laurence Tamayo. Alongside Clarete, the following officials have also been suspended: Councilor Rohner Buan, Councilor Rafael Canlapan, Councilor Adrian Carreon, Councilor Essel Joy David, Michelle Santos, Hilario Dimalanta, and John Nuevy Venzon. The list also includes Emerald Vital, the licensing assistant and former officer-in-charge of the business permit and licensing office.

The Ombudsman stated that the suspensions were necessary to prevent any potential influence on witnesses or tampering with evidence related to the ongoing investigation. According to the order, these officials will be suspended for a maximum of six months without pay while the case is being resolved.

Myla Clarete, Regin’s older sister, assumed her brother’s council seat in September 2023 and has now stepped in as the acting mayor of Porac. She took office on October 10, shortly after the suspension of the town’s key officials. Myla is also connected to former councilor Mike Tapang, who has filed his certificate of candidacy for mayor, supported by influential Pampanga figure Rodolfo “Bong” Pineda.

In her first remarks as acting mayor, Myla assured residents that municipal operations would continue without interruption. “Nothing will change in the normal operations of the municipality. Projects will continue. We won’t allow any delays in barangay projects,” she was quoted as saying in a report published by Rappler.

The complaint against the officials was not only directed at Regin Clarete but also included six former members of the town council. Mayor Jing Capil has now become the second local chief executive to face preventive suspension due to POGO-related issues, following the dismissal of Bamban’s mayor, Alice Guo, earlier this year.

Capil expressed his concerns regarding the process leading to the suspension. He indicated that the officials did not receive the complaint before the suspension was issued and felt they were denied due process. “We did not receive the complaint, and we’re not given the chance to reply. From all indications, we were not given due process,” he asserted.

The situation highlights the ongoing scrutiny surrounding POGOs and the regulatory environment governing them. These gaming operations have been under fire for their alleged connections to various forms of criminal activity, including torture, money laundering and human trafficking.