A steel manufacturing firm has asked the Office of the Ombudsman to rule on its request to place San Simon, Pampanga Mayor Abundio Punsalan Jr. under preventive suspension following his release from detention on a directive by the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court Branch 206 last September 2.
RealSteel Corp., complainant in the administrative cases filed on August 19, 2025 against Punsalan, earlier expressed fear that the mayor would use the powers of his office “to influence and defeat the investigation.”
The respondent was arrested by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on August 5, 2025 in an entrapment operation at a restaurant in Clark Freeport Zone after receiving P30 million in marked money.
RealSteel said the cash was part of the P80 million that Mayor Punsalan asked the firm to cough up in exchange for not revoking Municipal Ordinance No. 24-0025, which was passed by the previous Sangguniang Bayan, granting it tax incentives.
The complainant accused the local chief executive of Grave Misconduct, Serious Dishonesty, and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service. If found guilty of the first two administrative charges, Punsalan could face punishments including dismissal from government service and forfeiture of benefits.
To justify the issuance of a preventive suspension order against a public official, jurisprudence requires conditions that must be satisfied: the evidence of guilt must be strong; the charge must involve dishonesty, oppression or grave misconduct, neglect in the performance of duty and would warrant the removal of the respondent from service; or his continued stay in office may prejudice the investigation.
The law office of Abellon Lucero Panela and Partners, counsel for RealSteel, argued that the elements of preventive suspension are present in the administrative case against the San Simon mayor.
“We submit that all the elements for the issuance of a preventive suspension order …are present considering the vindictiveness of the respondent in exerting influence and tampering of evidence while the investigation is on-going,” the complainant said.
Likewise, it underscored the need to “ensure the integrity of the process and prevent any potential undue influence” from the respondent’s office.
A separate criminal complaint for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (RA 3019) and Extortion earlier filed by the Department of Justice against Punsalan has been approved by the Office of the Ombudsman, resulting in the filing of criminal charges before the Sandiganbayan last September 5.
