Clark FreepoRT — The mayor of San Simon town in Pampanga was reportedly arrested on Tuesday night by the National Bureau of Investigation-Intelligence Service (NBI-IS) in an entrapment operation amid allegations of extortion.
San Simon Mayor Abundio Punsalan Jr. was arrested along with Dr. Ed Ryan Dimla, also known as “Doc Yang,” at a local restaurant after they allegedly accepted an initial bribe of P30 million.
The money was reportedly part of a total P80 million bribe to secure a favorable government resolution for RealSteel Corporation.
The two suspects will be charged with violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
The mayor’s security personnel were also taken into custody and their service firearms were confiscated, according to authorities.
Punsalan’s office has not yet released a statement regarding the arrest. The mayor and Dimla are scheduled to undergo inquest proceedings Wednesday.