PAMPANGA TOWN MAYOR, AIDE NABBED FOR ALLEGED EXTORTION

BY KEVIN GALANG

THE mayor of San Simon, Pampanga and his long-time aide on Tuesday were arrested by joint operatives led by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for alleged extortion during an entrapment operation at a restaurant in Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga.

Arrested were San Simon Mayor Jun “JP” Punsalan and his alleged accomplice and long-time aide Dr. Ed Ryan Dimla alias “Doc Yang.”

Members of the National Bureau of Investigation-National Capital Region (NBI-NCR) in coordination with NBI-PAMDO, PSD-CDC and the Mabalacat City police, launched the sting at Café Mesa, Clark Freeport Zone.

Punsalan and Dimla were arrested while accepting the alleged bribe money from a steel company in exchange for a favorable resolution from the local government. 

Based on a complaint filed by the RealSteel Corporation, the mayor allegedly demanded an P80-million bribe — P30 million as an advance payment and the remaining P50 million to be paid in installment basis.

The accused were immediately brought to NBI-PAMDO before they were turned over to the NBI-NCR Office in Manila.

The mayor and his cohort were charged with violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and other related penal laws and were subjected to inquest proceedings Wednesday.

Meanwhile. also arrested in the operation were the mayor’s security aide for carrying several pieces of firearms and ammunition.