PORAC, Pampanga – The QUADCOM probing the involvement of public officials into the operations of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) in the country has cleared suspended Porac Mayor Jaime “Jing” Capil, the vice mayor, and four councilors of any “involvement nor any wrongdoing.”
In a certification issued on February 11, 2025, and signed by Rep. Robert Ace S. Barbers (2nd District—Surigao del Norte), and lead chairman of the QUADCOM, it said, “the QUADCOM has no pending issues with Mayor Jaime V. Capil of the Municipality of Porac, province of Pampanga.”
“In so far as our exhaustive investigations done in aid of legislation regarding with the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO), being undertaken by the Joint Committee in the House of Representatives, especially on illegal POGO operations in Porac, Pampanga, more particularly on the illegal operations of Lucky South 99, we found no involvement whatsoever nor any wrongdoing committed by Mayor Jaime V. Capil.”
Barbers has also cleared suspended Vice Mayor Francis Laurence Tamayo, and councilors Rafael Canlapan, Adrian Carreon, Essel Joy David, and John Nuevy Venzon, of any wrongdoing.
In a suspension order approved last October 7, 2024, the Office of the Ombudsman had also meted a suspension order against the late Councilor Regin Clarete, who died in May 2023.
Clarete was replaced by his sister Myla Clarete, who is now the acting Porac Mayor, while Capil serves his six-month suspension.
“It was a vindication,” according to Capil, who is seeking re-election in Porac town, which he transformed into one of the vibrant towns of Pampanga province.
“The truth set us free,” said Capil, who has vowed to continue his development programs for Porac town if re-elected anew.
“Kami po ay nagagalak. This is a vindication. It’s a relief po sa amin. Hindi po tayo involve in any illegal operations of POGO. Nakikita pa rin namin sa aming mga kababayan na hindi sila naniniwala,” according to Capil. “Ito na po ang sasagot sa kanilang mga sinasabi.”
Capil has consistently attended the Quadcom hearing in the course of its investigation into the operations of Lucky South 99 in Porac. POGO operations had been legalized by no other than former President Rodrigo Duterte in the past to bring in revenues to the country’s coffer. POGO licenses are then being issued by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) which is also mandated to monitor and collect taxes.
In September 2021, in lieu of local taxes, Duterte signed into law Republic Act (RA) No. 11590, which mandated payment of gaming tax equivalent to 5 percent of POGO licensees’ gross gaming revenues (GGR), or 5 percent of the agreed, pre-determined minimum monthly revenues from gaming revenues, whichever is higher.
Meanwhile, Capil said Porac town is a viable area for businesses made evident with the development projects of big firms such as Ayala Corp. Porac town straddles along the modern Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTex) and is just minutes away from the Clark International Airport and other flagship projects inside the Clark Freeport Zone such as the North-South Railway Project that will connect Clark airport to Manila all the way to Laguna.