MANILA — SAGIP Party-list Representative Rodante Marcoleta urged the Office of the Ombudsman on Tuesday (25 June 2024) to take action against the alleged anomalous activities of San Simon Mayor Abundio Punsalan Jr., who is currently under his fourth preventive suspension.
“Gusto ko nandun ang Ombudsman para sa ganoon…makikita nila ilang track ng ebidensiya ang gusto nila, ipinakikita namin. Mabuti naman sinabi niya kanina [na] ‘we will reconsider’,” Marcoleta said in an interview, referring to the resolution issued by the Ombudsman that acquitted Punsalan.
“Nakiusap ako na pumunta kayo doon para makita ninyo at gusto ko ngayong malaman pagkatapos nito na nag-hearing kami, nangako sila, nag-commit sila, eh malaman natin kung gagalaw sila o hindi… Tanong ko anong threshold mo ba? Ilang talangkas pa ng dokumento ang gusto mo para ikaw na mismo ang pumunta sa korte,” the lawmaker added.
During the hearing of the Committee on Public Accounts, Antipolo Second District Representative Romeo Acop cited Punsalan and Loreto Santos in contempt for “continuously not answering or lying to this committee.”
Acop requested to detain Punsalan and Santos in Bicutan Jail for 30 days. San Simon’s Mayor appealed the motion due to his medical condition, but it was denied.
Santos has been attending official meetings on behalf of the San Simon Mayor despite not being a government employee.
Furthermore, Marcoleta assured that they will “get to the bottom of this,” emphasizing that they believe Punsalan should be held accountable for his actions, particularly given his multiple suspensions.
“Pinipilit ko doon sa charter ng Ombudsman — nandun naman nakalagay na ‘yung removal depending on the appreciation of the mitigating or aggravating circumstances. Ano pa bang hinihintay ninyo? Ilang beses nang nasuspinde ‘yan,” he said.
On June 18, the Office of the Governor of Pampanga issued a preventive suspension for Punsalan lasting 60 days, about the issuance of a Mayor’s permit to One Sky Aluminum Extrusion Corporation for violations of environmental, air, and water laws.
Punsalan was previously found guilty of dishonesty, grave misconduct in office, gross negligence in the performance of official duties, gross dereliction of duty, and grave abuse of authority in an administrative case filed with the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
