The Office of the Ombudsman has meted a 6-month suspension to a dead town councilor in Porac, Pampanga for “gross neglect of duty.”
In an 11-page order approved last October 7, 2024, Ombudsman Samuel Martires had suspended the late Councilor Regin B. Clarete for six months along with 20 others including re-electionist Mayor Jing Capil and mayoral aspirant Michael L. Tapang.
Also suspended were former Vice Mayor Charlie O. Santos, incumbent Vice Mayor Francis Laurence C. Tamayo, and former Councilors Edwin L. Abuque, Michelle Bengco, Princess L. Buan, Rito S. Buan, Jin Mikhaela M. Canlas, Roman Paul C. David, Maynard T. Lapid, Remberto M. Lapid, incumbent councilors Rohner Buan, Rafael M. Canlapan, Adrian E. Carreon, Essel Joy C. David, Hilario D. Dimalanta, Michelle B. Santos, and John Nuevy L. Venzon. and Emerald Vital, Licensing Assistant and former OIC-Business Permit and Licensing Office was also suspended.
The complaint was filed by Undersecretary Juan Victor R. Llamas of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) against the 21 respondents in the Ombudsman case docketed as OMB-C-A-SEP-24-0093 for “Gross Neglect of Duty.”
The case stemmed from the operations of Lucky South 99, a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) in Porac town.
The order stated: “Complainant further alleges that Mayor Capil’s neglect of duty is very clear when he signed / issued, through Vital’s recommendation, a business permit to Lucky South 99 until 31 December 2023 despite the impending expiration of its PAGCOR license on 27 October 2023. In connection with this, he also failed to appropriately act upon the revocation of Lucky South 99’s business permit when its PAGCOR license ultimately expired.”
“Mayor Capil also failed to act appropriately on the reports of criminal activities happening inside Lucky South 99’s premises. Notably, several validation requests and letters from the PNP concerning illegal activities such as serious illegal detention, cyber-related criminal activities, prostitution, were left unacted upon by Mayor Capil.”
It also stated: “They are hereby preventively suspended during the pendency of this case until its termination, but not to exceed the total period of six (6) months, without pay.”
The POGOs had been legalized under the Duterte administration but were recently banned by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Regin Clarete, who died in May 2023, had been succeeded by his older sister Myla Clarete in the Porac Council last September 2023.
For unknown reasons, Councilor Myla Clarete was not suspended but was in fact appointed acting Porac mayor.
Acting Mayor Clarete is sister-in-law of former Councilor Tapang, who is also eyeing the mayoral post.
It was not known if the Clarete family had received the suspension order of the late Councilor Regin Clarete.
