San Simon Town Mayor Abundio “JP” Punsalan Jr. 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 benefiting the steel company.
Punsalan’s long-time aide, Ed Ryan “Doc Yang” Dimla was also arrested during the NBI operation.
The two are facing charges for violating Republic Act No. 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, along with other related penal provisions.
Punsalan’s body guards were also arrested for carrying firearms and ammunition.
SunStar Pampanga has reached out to the camp of Punsalan and Dimla but to no avail.