3 Porac mayoral bets cast votes as tense local race unfolds

PORAC, Pampanga — Three mayoral candidates here cast their votes early Monday in their respective voting precincts in a closely monitored race.

Suspended Mayor Jaime “Jing” Capil, former Vice Mayor Atty. Charlie Santos, and Michael “Mike” Tapang turned up in different precincts to cast their votes as more than 80,000 registered voters in the municipality headed to the polls.

Porac, the largest municipality in Pampanga, is a political hotspot this election season, with the mayoral race drawing heightened attention due to past controversies and the involvement of high-profile political figures.

Capil, the incumbent mayor, is seeking re-election despite his suspension. His leadership has come under intense scrutiny following the national government’s crackdown on illegal POGO operations, with Lucky South 99 —raided in 2024— at the center of the controversy.

Capil’s bid has stirred public debate about accountability and governance in Porac.

If elected, this will be his third consecutive term as municipal mayor.

Meanwhile, Michael “Mike” Tapang has emerged as a formidable contender in this year’s election. His campaign is backed by a coalition of influential political figures, most notably Rodolfo “Bong” Pineda, patriarch of the powerful Pineda clan.

Running as an independent candidate is Atty. Santos, who served as vice mayor from 2019 to 2022, alongside his running mate and now opponent Capil.

He positions himself as a "reformist," offering an alternative to traditional political alliances.

The early morning votes of the three candidates marked the start of what is expected to be a closely contested and closely monitored election.

As the day unfolds, Porac residents are not just voting for a mayor—they are choosing the direction their town will take amid calls for transparency, reform, and stronger leadership. —VAL, GMA Integrated News

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