Arrest warrant out for Porac mayor over Pogo hub
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—The Regional Trial Court (RTC) in the National Capital Judicial Region (NCJR) Branch 265 in Pasig City has issued a warrant of arrest against Mayor Jaime “Jing” Capil of Porac town in Pampanga for seven counts of graft in connection with the operation of an online scam hub, Lucky South 99, in the town.
Lucky South 99, a Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) hub, was initially touted as a legally operating massive online gambling facility until it was raided by authorities in July last year for engaging in human trafficking and other illegal activities.
The facility remained largely untouched until President Marcos ordered the closure of Pogo hubs in July 2024.
Dated Nov. 28, the warrant was signed by NCJR RTC Branch 265 acting Presiding Judge Josephine Advento. She set the bail for Capil’s release at P90,000.
The Inquirer tried to reach Capil on Sunday, but he did not answer the calls or text messages.
The case was filed by the police, who accused the mayor of being liable for his alleged failure to regulate the operation of Lucky South 99.
The mayor and the municipal board issued Lucky South 99, owned by Chinese and several Filipinos, a certificate of no objection for business processing in less than two days in year 2000.
That document was used by Lucky South 99 until 2024 for gaming operations despite nonrenewal of permit by the Philippine Gaming and Amusement Corp. as early as 2022.
Revoked
In September last year, the Securities and Exchange Commission also revoked the corporate registration of Lucky South 99 Corp. for illegally operating the Pogo facility in Pampanga.
The police also alleged that Capil failed to verify reports of illegal activities, such as torture and financial scam, within the 10-hectare compound leased by an affiliated firm inside the Grand Palazzo Royale.
In a hearing at the Pampanga Sangguniang Panlalawigan (provincial board), Capil denied having knowledge of the operations of a posh resort with a modern firing range reportedly used by a Pogo boss affiliated with then Bamban, Tarlac, Mayor Alice Guo, whose nationality was found to be Chinese.
Guo has recently been found guilty of qualified trafficking and was ordered by the Pasig RTC last Thursday transferred from the Pasig City Jail Female Dormitory to the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City, following her conviction.
Another person linked to Lucky South 99 operations, Cassandra Ong, is now considered a fugitive.
