Porac mayor suspended over POGO

The Office of the Ombudsman has suspended Mayor Jaime Capil of Porac, Pampanga and 10 other local officials for six months as it investigates an administrative complaint filed against them in connection with the recently raided Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) in the municipality.

- By ELIZABETH MARCELO

In an 11-page order signed by Ombudsman Samuel Martires on Oct. 7, the anti-graft body said the preventive suspension of Capil, Vice Mayor Francis Laurence Tamayo and other respondents is necessary as there is strong evidence of guilt against them for the complaint of gross neglect of duty filed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

The ombudsman said the suspension of the defendants is proper as gross neglect of duty warrants dismissal from the service if the accusations are proven true.