Governor Lilia Pineda yesterday expressed her disappointment over the arrest of San Simon Mayor Abundio Punsalan Jr., adding that she was shocked by the turn of events.
Prior to his arrest, the governor said Punsalan even attended the Leadership, Ethics, Accountability, and Development in Local Governance program of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in the City of San Fernando.
The event was attended by mayors, vice mayors, and councilors from the different towns and cities of the province.
During the program, Pineda said she even reminded the local officials to pursue honest and corruption-free governance.
The governor added that she was not remiss in reminding officials to remain faithful to the trust and mandate given to them by their constituents.
“As if nothing happened with the seminar. I was surprised by what happened. Only he can explain why this happened to him,” Pineda said.
Punsalan was arrested by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Intelligence Service during an entrapment operation in Clark Freeport on Tuesday, August 5.
According to a video released by the NBI, Punsalan was apprehended after allegedly receiving bribe money from a steel company operating in San Simon.
The payment was allegedly made in exchange for the local government’s issuance of a favorable resolution in favor of the steel company.
Pineda said she will not tolerate any wrongdoings under her administration.
The governor also said that the province will continue looking after the welfare of the people of San Simon.