The Sandiganbayan has issued two arrest warrants against suspended San Simon, Pampanga Mayor Abundio Punsalan Jr. for graft and malversation of public funds in connection with an alleged unlawful land purchase in 2023.
Dated Nov. 17, the arrest warrant for graft allows bail of P90,000, while the other criminal case allows no bail.
Both warrants were issued and signed by First Division acting chairperson Bayani Jacinto, according to copies obtained by the Inquirer on Friday.
Authorities have yet to serve the warrants at Punsalan’s home in San Simon. He and his lawyer did not respond to calls from the Inquirer.
The Office of the Ombudsman had suspended Punsalan for six months in October 2025 for grave misconduct.
The current cases involve the purchase of a P45-million private land without authority from the municipal board.
Punsalan reportedly could not justify the purchase, which also led the Pampanga provincial board to suspend him over the same issue.
Additional cases were filed after the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested him in an extortion sting last August.
The supposed victim, a Filipino-Chinese businessman, alleged that the mayor demanded an advance of P30 million and sought a second payout of P80 million.
The San Simon and Pampanga police commanders, along with the NBI regional director, were tasked to serve the warrants.
Punsalan is also subject to a hold departure order dated Nov. 17, according to the warrants