Mayor Jaime Capil Challenges Ombudsman Ruling in Court docket of Appeals
Jaime Capil, the Mayor of Porac, Pampanga, has formally petitioned the Court docket of Appeals to rethink its current determination upholding his dismissal from authorities service. The authorized transfer follows an investigation by the Workplace of the Ombudsman, which discovered the native govt responsible of gross neglect of obligation concerning the regulation of a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) inside his jurisdiction.
Background of the POGO Controversy
The controversy facilities on the operations of Fortunate South 99, a POGO hub positioned in Porac that was raided by authorities in mid-2024. Investigators alleged that the power was a web site for human trafficking, cybercrimes, and different unlawful actions. The Ombudsman’s ruling, issued in April 2025, concluded that Capil did not train correct oversight by issuing enterprise permits to the agency from 2021 to 2023 regardless of varied regulatory deficiencies, together with the dearth of a proper Letter of No Objection from the municipal council.
Along with dismissal from workplace, the Ombudsman’s penalties included the forfeiture of retirement advantages and a perpetual disqualification from holding any public workplace. Whereas Capil was beforehand suspended in the course of the investigation, the finality of the dismissal order has prompted this newest authorized problem.
Authorized Protection and Political Affect
Capil has constantly maintained his innocence, arguing that he acted inside the scope of his authority and that the first accountability for licensing such corporations rests with nationwide regulators. In his assertion concerning the enchantment, Capil expressed confidence within the judicial course of, stating that he’s able to battle for fact and justice whereas looking for authorized treatments to clear his title.
The authorized battle coincides with vital political developments. Regardless of the dismissal order, Capil proceeded together with his reelection bid within the Might 2025 midterm elections, the place he secured a 3rd consecutive time period. Nevertheless, his victory faces additional issues because the Fee on Elections (Comelec) Second Division not too long ago moved to disqualify him primarily based on the Ombudsman’s findings, declaring votes forged for him as stray.
Present Standing of the Case
The Mayor’s authorized staff is presently pursuing a Movement for Reconsideration with the Comelec whereas concurrently preventing the executive dismissal within the Court docket of Appeals. Capil argues that as a result of the Ombudsman’s determination continues to be beneath enchantment and never but closing, it mustn’t function a foundation for his disqualification from workplace. For now, the management of Porac stays in a state of authorized flux as the upper courts weigh the deserves of his petition.
