MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) Second Division has disqualified incumbent Porac, Pampanga Mayor Jaime “Jing” Capil from the May 2025 elections due to an earlier Ombudsman ruling that dismissed him from service over alleged involvement with illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) activities.
In an eight-page resolution, the Comelec granted the disqualification petition filed by mayoral candidate Michael Legaspi Tapang. The decision was based on an April verdict by the Ombudsman, which found Capil guilty of gross neglect of duty and ordered his dismissal from public office.
Citing Section 40(b) of the Local Government Code, the poll body declared Capil ineligible to run for any local elective position and ruled that all votes cast in his favor were to be considered stray.
“To allow a candidate who has been disqualified administratively to seek public office undermines the penalties set by the Ombudsman and mocks the electoral process,” the Comelec said in its decision.
“As a constitutional body, the Comelec is mandated to protect the sanctity of elections and ensure only qualified candidates can participate. Thus, it must act on its administrative authority to cancel the certificate of candidacy and disqualify candidates penalized with perpetual disqualification — even if under appeal — unless a court orders otherwise,” it added.
Mayor Capil responded to the ruling by stating that he will appeal the decision.
“We will file a motion for reconsideration. The Ombudsman ruling, which the Comelec used as a basis, is not yet final, so they cannot disqualify me. I am presumed innocent, and my votes should not be deemed stray,” Capil told GMA News Online.
Despite the controversy, Capil won a third term in the May 2025 elections, receiving 39,939 votes, defeating former Vice Mayor Atty. Charlie Santos (3,744 votes) and Michael Tapang (23,063 votes). His daughter, Jen Capil, also secured the vice mayoral seat with 39,342 votes, surpassing Vincent Lusung, Tapang’s running mate, who received 25,926 votes.
Capil’s candidacy came under scrutiny due to his alleged connections to Lucky South 99, a POGO hub in Porac that became the center of a broader government crackdown on illegal gaming operations.
In its ruling, the Comelec Second Division also instructed the Porac Municipal Board of Canvassers to reconvene, revise the certificate of canvass, and proclaim the candidate with the most valid votes.
Voter turnout in Porac reached 84.97%, with over 80,000 voters participating across its 29 barangays — making it the largest municipality in Pampanga.
