Suspended Porac Mayor Capil yet to receive copy of PAOCC complaint

Suspended Porac, Pampanga Mayor Jaime Capil has yet to receive a copy of the complaint filed against him and several others over the operations of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) firm Lucky South 99.

In a report on Unang Balita on Friday, Capil said he has only learned about the complaint through the media.

"Wala pa po kaming opisyal na natanggap na kopya namin ng asunto," he said. 

"Ikinalulungkot at ikinababahala rin po namin na aming nalaman lamang na may reklamo sa amin sa media, at hindi sa inaasahan naming regular na proseso."

(We have not officially received our copy of the complaint. We are saddened and worried that we learned about it only through the media and not in the regular process as expected.)

The complaint was filed by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and the Philippine National Police-Criminal investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG).

Aside from Capil, also named respondents are Porac Business Permit and Licensing Office head Emerald Salonga Vital, Municipal Vice Mayor Francis Tamayo, and seven Sangguniang Bayan members.

Capil said they are ready to face the allegations against them at the proper forum.

"Handa naming harapin ang lahat ng ito sa tamang forum. Buo ang aming tiwala na ang katotohanan at katarungan ay manaig," he said.

(We are ready to face all this in the proper forum. We are confident that truth and justice will prevail.)

The Office of the Ombudsman suspended Capil and the others due to alleged gross neglect of duty after the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) accused them of inaction and willful non-compliance of their duties as they allowed the continuous operation of the Lucky South 99 in their municipality.

GMA Integrated News is still trying to reach out to the other respondents for their comment. —KBK, GMA Integrated News