Mayor, vice mayor, councilors face graft raps over POGO permit

Graft complaints were filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against suspended Porac, Pampanga Mayor Jaime Capil and other local officials by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Respondents, including Vice Mayor Francis Tamayo and Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO) OIC Emerald Vital, are accused of violating sections of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

The charges stem from alleged irregularities in the approval of a business permit for the POGO firm Lucky South 99, which authorities said was engaged in cyber scam operations in Central Luzon.

The case is a result of a case build-up and coordinating conference among the PAOCC, DOJ, and PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

Additional respondents include councilors Rafael Canlapan, John Nuevy Venzon, Rohner Buan, Michelle Santos, Hilario Dimalanta, Essel Joy David, and Adrian Carreon.

The accused allegedly granted a business permit to Lucky South 99 from 2021-2023 despite documentation problems.