PORAC, Pampanga – The recent clearance issued by the House quad committee to Mayor Jaime “Jing” Capil over his alleged involvement in the controversy surrounding the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) hub here is not an absolution from complaints he is facing from other government bodies.
“The House quadcom recently cleared (Mayor Jaime) Capil of his connections to the POGO hub in Porac through a letter obviously requested by the mayor ‘for whatever purpose it may serve’ him and his slate,” acceded former councilor Mike Tapang in a statement.
“Please note that this does not erase the lapses in leadership and governance under his administration,” added the mayoralty aspirant.
He stressed that while Capil was cleared of direct involvement as a partner, adviser, or operator of the POGO hub, the so-called clearance from quadcom does not absolve him from the multiple complaints filed by various government agencies.
“That clearance does not cover the cases filed against him by the Office of the Ombudsman, the Department of Justice, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government,” Tapang pointed out.
In an interview shared with the local media, House quadcom chair Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers reaffirmed that the committee “found no link between Mayor Capil and Lucky South 99.”
“Thus, the clearance issued to Mayor Capil is without prejudice to the investigations that other government agencies may further conduct, and the cases that may be filed against him should the evidence warrant,” Barbers clarified.
Tapang further detailed the charges against Capil, highlighting the Ombudsman’s decision to suspend him, Vice Mayor Francis Laurence Tamayo, and other local officials for six months due to gross neglect of duty.
“They were accused of allowing the continued operation of Lucky South 99 despite its alleged illegal activities,” he said.
He also noted that Capil and the town officials are facing graft charges before the DOJ for approving the business permit of Lucky South 99 despite allegedly clear irregularities in its application documents. Punto News Team
