MEMBERS of the House of Representatives grilled San Simon, Pampanga Abundio Punsalan Jr. over the alleged anomalous purchase of land for the expansion of the municipal hall building.
Multiple cases since 2020 have been filed against Punsalan in the Office of the Ombudsman, however, the said office has yet to release resolutions on the cases.
During the latest hearing of Committee on Public Accounts chaired by Abang Lingkod Party-list Joseph Stephen Paduano, lawmakers questioned the purchased lot for the expansion of the municipal hall, including existing public
roads, waterways, and lots with ownership disputes and pending cases in court.
Moreover, payments were reportedly made without valid sales contracts and registered land titles.
SAGIP Party-list Rodante Marcoleta has scored the Mayor over his inconsistent responses regarding the land purchase intended for the expansion of the municipal hall structure.
Punsalan was found guilty of dishonesty, grave misconduct in office, gross negligence in the performance of official duties, gross dereliction of duty and grave abuse of authority on the administrative case filed at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
He was reportedly meted a penalty of six months
suspension—from July 10, 2021 to January 10, 2022.
Senior Citizens Party-list Rep. Rodolfo Ordanes has earlier filed House Resolution No. 1503 seeking to conduct an inquiry on the alleged questionable actions of the mayor.
In September 2020,certain concerned residents of San Simon filed a case against Punsalan for hia alleged illegal use and disbursement of public funds amounting to P45 million for purchase of parcels land intended for municipal hall expansion.
“Kung kinakailangan gawin ay gagawin ko po. Gagawa po ako ng hakbang para maibalik po ang dapat maibalik,” Punsalan has reportedly said, referring to the P45 million.
In 2020, Vice Mayor Leonora Wong also filed a graft case against Punsalan at the Office of the Ombudsman. The case has yet to be decided by the anti-graft agency.