San Simon, Pampanga mayor suspended 6 months for alleged P80-M bribe try

The Office of the Ombudsman suspended San Simon, Pampanga Mayor Abundio “Jun” Punsalan, Jr. to a maximum of six months in connection with a P80 million bribe attempt from a steel company.

In an Ombudsman order dated September 30 but released October 6, Acting Ombudsman Dante Vargas said the preventive suspension order stemmed from a complaint filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) accusing Punsalan, Jr. of demanding P80 million from San Simon-based Real Steel Corp. in exchange of the mayor not revoking a municipal ordinance granting tax incentives to the company.

The mayor is facing alleged grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and conduct prejudicial to the best of interest of the service.

Real Steel representatives Irwin Chua and Melodie Arellano asked the help of authorities, prompting the NBI to launch an entrapment operation last Aug.5, 2025 against Punsalan who was caught receiving marked money.

“Based on the evidence on record, it is preliminarily established that the guilt of the Respondent Abundio "Jun" S. Punsalan, Jr. is strong and the charges against him involve grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and conduct prejudicial against the interest of the service which, if duly proven, would warrant the penalty of removal from the service,” the Resolution said.

According to the Ombudsman. “there is enough basis to conclude that the mayor's continued stay in office “may prejudice the just, fair and independent disposition of the present cases.” 

“This office is, therefore, fully convinced that placing the respondent under preventive suspension is proper, in accordance with Section 24 of Republic Act 6770 or the Ombudsman law,” the Resolution said.

“Wherefore, Abundio Simbulan Punsalan, Jr. is hereby preventively suspended from office for the duration of the proceedings until the same is terminated, but not to exceed six months without pay. The period of preventive suspension shall be effective upon service to the respondent of a copy of this Order,” it added. —RF, GMA Integrated News