The Office of the Ombudsman in the Philippines has announced the removal of Jaime Capil, the mayor of Porac City in Pampanga Province, from office due to his serious negligence in handling the alleged illegal activities of the offshore gaming operator (POGO) Lucky South 99.
This decision not only strips Capil of his mayoral position but also prohibits him from running for any public office in the future and cancels all his retirement benefits. This sanction was imposed following an in-depth investigation into his alleged corrupt practices.
Previously, Capil was temporarily suspended along with several local officials charged with misconduct. The Ombudsman noted that despite existing reports and recommendations against renewing the license for Lucky South 99 for violating regulations, Capil allowed the company to continue its operations.
The investigation revealed that Lucky South 99 was granted business licenses by the Porac municipal government for three consecutive years (2021, 2022, and 2023) to engage in POGO operations without meeting basic regulatory requirements. This permission directly contradicted the municipal government's regulatory duties.
The Office of the Ombudsman emphasized that although Lucky South 99 holds a POGO license granted by PAGCOR, the local business license itself is the legal basis for operating within that administrative jurisdiction and should not be overlooked or issued carelessly.
It is reported that in 2024, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission along with the National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) have formally brought corruption charges against Capil and his associates in this case.
