In a significant development, Mayor Abundio Punsalan Jr. of San Simon, Pampanga was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on August 6, 2025, for alleged extortion activities. The arrest occurred after authorities caught Punsalan red-handed during a supposed bribery deal that involved a staggering P30 million, which was part of a larger demand for P80 million from Realsteel Corp. in exchange for a business permit from the municipal government.
Realsteel Corp. claimed that the mayor and his accomplice, Ed Ryan Dimla, had been soliciting payments in tranches, with the outstanding amount totaling P50 million. This illegal transaction took place in a restaurant located in Clark Freeport Zone, where NBI operatives also disarmed several of the mayor’s security escorts during the operation.
This arrest marks yet another episode in Punsalan’s troubled political career, having faced suspension four times since taking office in 2019. His past controversies include questionable land deals and the issuance of permits without proper clearances, including one for a company that operated without an environmental certificate.
Despite these issues, Punsalan managed to secure reelection in May 2025, albeit by a narrow margin of just 533 votes against his closest rival. Following his arrest, both Punsalan and Dimla are now detained at the NBI headquarters in Manila and are undergoing inquest proceedings for violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
