Porac Mayor Jaime “Jing” Capil has been ordered suspended for 6 months by the Office of the Ombudsman, in relation to ongoing investigations on Lucky South 99.
In an 11-page order signed by Ombudsman Samuel R. Martires, also included in the suspension order are incumbent Vice Mayor Francis Laurence Tamayo, Sangguniang Bayan members Rohner L. Buan, Rafael M. Canlapan, Adrian R. Carreon, Regin B. Clarete, Essel Joy C. David, Hilario D. Dimalanta, Michelle B. Santos, and John Nuevy L. Venzon, and Emerald Vital, then OIC of the town’s Business Permit and Licensing Office.
The officials are all suspended without pay.
In the order, the Ombudsman said the respondents stand charged for Gross Neglect of Duty, which, if proven true, constitutes ground for their dismissal from the government service under the Revised Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service.
“Further, given respondents’ power and authority, there is strong probability that they may influence witnesses or tamper with any evidence material to the case, and in order to likewise prevent any possible acts of malfeasance and/or misfeasance, hence, this Preventive Suspension,” the Ombudsman said.
The administrative complaint for Gross Neglect of Duty was filed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), represented by Undersecretary Juan Victor R. Llamas against the public officials, stemming from the operations of Lucky South 99.
The Ombudsman stated in the order that Mayor Capil, as the ultimate signatory of business permits, failed to inquire on the regularity of the documents pertaining to Lucky South 99’s business permit applications.”
The order also pointed out Mayor Capil’s failure to act appropriately on the reports of criminal activities happening inside Lucky South 99’s premises.
Meanwhile, the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) members, according to the Ombudsman, failed to exercise legislative oversight for the welfare of Porac LGU and its inhabitants by failing to enact an ordinance or resolution intended to prevent and suppress the commission of criminal activities within Lucky South 99’s premises.
The unified actions/inactions of respondents, according to the Ombudsman, “make them all liable for Gross Neglect of Duty.”
