Pampanga mayor arrested amid P80-M extortion allegations
According to John Consulta's report on 24 Oras, the operation stemmed from the complaint filed by the company with the National Bureau of Investigation.
The company alleged that San Simon Mayor Abundio Punsalan Jr. was extorting money from them in exchange for being allowed to continue their operations in San Simon.
'Nakareceive nga kami ng reklamo na itong mayor ng San Simon, Pampanga humihingi ng pera para pahintulutan silang mag-manufacture ng steel doon sa lugar niya,' NBI Director Jaime Santiago said.
(We did receive a complaint that the mayor of San Simon, Pampanga is asking for money in exchange for allowing them to manufacture steel in his area.)
'Pero ang laki ng hinihingi P80 million. P30 million muna paunang bayad. Kapag lumabas na 'yung resolution ay saka babayaran 'yung kakulangan. Nung tinanggap na ni mayor, ayun, inaresto na siya ng ating mga operatiba,' he added.
(But the amount being asked for was huge, P80 million. An initial payment of P30 million first. Once the resolution is released, the remaining balance would be paid. When the mayor accepted it, that's when our operatives arrested him.)
NBI agents arrested Punsalan in Clark, Pampanga. The agents recovered the P30 million marked money used during the meeting.
Meanwhile, they also arrested the mayor's five bodyguards, including one who is a member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and a doctor who allegedly acted as the middleman.
When brought to the Department of Justice for inquest, Punsalan did not comment on the allegations against him.
As of Thursday, Santiago said that all subjects are now under the custody of the NBI at their facility in Bureau of Corrections in Muntinlupa City. —Joahna Lei Casilao/AOL, GMA Integrated News
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