THE mayor of San Simon town in Pampanga yesterday underwent inquest proceeding at the Department of Justice (DOJ) after he was arrested on August 5 on allegations of extortion in an entrapment operation conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation Intelligence Service (NBI-IS) in a restaurant inside the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga.
San Simon Mayor Abundio “JP” Punsalan Jr. was apprehended by operatives of the NBI-IS assisted by the NBI Technical Intelligence Division, Criminal Intelligence Division, Counter-Intelligence Division, Intelligence Research and Analysis Division, and the Pampanga NBI District Office.
The operation stemmed from a complaint filed by RealSteel Corporation with the NBI accusing Punsalan of allegedly asking for P80 million in exchange for a favorable resolution from the local government on its purported environmental violations.
No details about the firm’s complaint against the mayor was made available to the media, except that Punsalan supposedly asked for a P30 million down payment, while the balance of P50 million will be paid in installment.
Punsalan did not make a statement to reporters when asked about his arrest and the allegations of RealSteel Corporation.
The town mayor is facing a complaint for violation of Republic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and extortion.
Arrested with Punsalan was his long-time aide, Ed Ryan “Doc Yang” Dimla, and his security escorts.
