REALSTEEL Corp. has filed administrative charges before the Office of the Ombudsman against San Simon, Pampanga Mayor Abundio “Jun” Punsalan Jr. who was collared by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) during an entrapment operation at a restaurant in Calrk Freeport Zone in Mabalacat City.
The company, represented by San Simon residents Irwin Chua and Melodie Arellano, charged Punsalan with grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service. The first two charges are punishable with dismissal from government service and forfeiture of benefits.
The complaint stemmed from the alleged attempt by the local chief executive to extort P80 mil-lion from RealSteel in exchange for not revoking Municipal Ordinance No. 24-0025 passed by the previous Sangguniang Bayan that granted tax incentives to the complainant firm.
Records of the separate criminal complaints against Punsalan for robbery extortion and violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (RA 3019) have been forwarded by the Department of Justice to the Ombudsman as of Aug. 11, 2025.
In its complaint, the company said the actions of the respondent mayor were a clear violation of the “code of ethics and anti-graft and corruption laws” hence must be punished.
“The fundamental notion that one’s tenure in government springs exclusively from the trust re-posed by the public means that continuance in office is contingent upon the extent to which one is able to maintain that trust,” the complainant said.
For demanding that cash from the steel manufacturing firm for his own personal benefit, Re-alSteel said Punsalan acted with abuse of authority contrary to the guidelines for government personnel under the Revised Rules of Administrative Cases in the Civil Service (RACCS).
“Further, Section 57 (a) of the RACCS provides that the penalty of dismissal from the service shall carry with it the accessory penalties of cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, perpetual disqualification from holding public office and bar from taking civil service examination,” the complainant said.
In view of the seriousness of the charges against the respondent, RealSteel asked the Ombuds-man to issue an order placing the mayor under preventive suspension.
It noted that the pending cases have met both the conditions required by the Ombudsman Act of 1989 (RA 6770) namely, that the evidence of guilt is strong, and the charge involves dishonesty, oppression, grave misconduct or neglect in the performance of duty and would warrant removal from service.
The firm said it is concerned about the vindictiveness of the respondent as well as his use of power to influence and tamper with evidence to hamper the investigation.
“Pending investigation and resolution of this case, we pray that respondent Punsalan be placed under preventive suspension to prevent him from using his office to influence and defeat this investigation,” the complainant said.
